Between Whorf's (+1941) and Sapir's (+1939) death and the reprinting of some of their writings in 1949 there was a hiatus in research that linked language to culture. In the 1950s and 1960s the Relativity Hypothesis played a crucial role in the growing research on the importance of language in human psychological and social functioning but there was just a small amount of empirical research.
Anthropological linguists refer to a "four field"-study of human beings that contains the following fields :
- Physical Anthropology
- Archeology (for investigation of historic and prehistoric languages and their cultural surroundings i.e. Indo-European Languages)
- Socio-Cultural Anthropology
- Linguistic Anthropology
First fieldworks were done in linguistically oriented case studies and on the investigation of single languages concerning their associations to culture or cultural modes of thought.
This work focuses on the invention of anthropological linguists, its predominant scholars and their theories und suppositions.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2. Different approaches within anthropological linguistics
2.1 Behaviourist Ethnolinguistics
2.2 Grammar as reflection of culture
2.3 The problem of language and thought
2.4 Typological approaches
2.4.1 Presuppositions
2.4.2 Linguistic universals
2.4.3 Selected Cases Approach
2.4.4 Cognitive implications of the typological patterning
3.0 The approaches of The Ethnography of Speaking
3.1 The relation between language/culture and language/thought according to ethnographers of speaking
3.2 Silversteins investigations
3.3 Further foci and fieldwork
3.4 Methodology
4.0 Ethnosemantics
4.1 Componential analysis
4.2 Folk Taxonomy
4.3 Artificial intelligence
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This work explores the historical development and diverse theoretical frameworks within anthropological linguistics, specifically focusing on the complex interrelationship between language, culture, and thought. It aims to clarify how linguistic structures and usage patterns reflect cognitive processes and social frameworks across different societies.
- Evolution of the linguistic relativity hypothesis.
- Methodologies of the Ethnography of Speaking.
- Analysis of folk taxonomies and componential analysis.
- Cognitive implications of typological language patterns.
- The role of language in constructing ethnic and national identity.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Behaviourist Ethnolinguistics
Malinowski's investigation of planting activities that combine language with physical activities (Trobriander and other 'primitive languages') led him to conclude that language is one of the main cultural forces - an adjunct of physical activities and by this an equivalent of gestures and movement. Malinowski furthermore concluded that: - verbal acts are part of human behaviour - language is an autonomous cultural aspect with unique, unreplaceable function - a single language is due to its bounding to a specific culture untranslateable - language is determined by its users needs and interests - language is part of planned behaviour.
In contrast to Malinowski, Pike takes an integrated ethnologic behaviorism in which language serves as 'functioning part of human behaviour' instead as a code. Language consists of form and content and is furthermore 'patterned activity'. Verbal activity can not be devided from non-verbal activity because they complement one another.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 Introduction: Provides an overview of the hiatus in research linking language to culture following the work of Whorf and Sapir, and introduces the two primary fields of study: Comparative Psycholinguistics and Anthropological Linguistics.
2. Different approaches within anthropological linguistics: Examines various historical and theoretical frameworks, including behaviourist perspectives, the study of grammar as a reflection of culture, and the development of typological approaches.
3.0 The approaches of The Ethnography of Speaking: Explores how ethnographic data and social context inform our understanding of language function, including specific investigations into communicative competence and cognitive styles.
4.0 Ethnosemantics: Discusses the structure of lexicon as a cultural inventory, focusing on componential analysis, folk taxonomies, and the influence of artificial intelligence paradigms on cultural understanding.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the development of the field, acknowledging the shift from linguistic structure to linguistic function while identifying the persistent need for better integration of non-linguistic data.
Keywords
Anthropological Linguistics, Linguistic Relativity, Ethnography of Speaking, Language and Thought, Weltanschauung, Componential Analysis, Folk Taxonomy, Silverstein, Hymes, Malinowski, Cognitive Styles, Cultural Identity, Diglossia, Semantic Typology, Language Maintenance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary scope of this work?
The work provides a comprehensive overview of various scholarly approaches within anthropological linguistics, specifically regarding the interconnections between linguistic structures, cultural practices, and human cognition.
What is the main research focus?
The primary focus is to examine the "language-thought-culture" problem and how different anthropological and linguistic theories attempt to explain how language guides or influences our perception of reality.
Which key theories are addressed?
The text addresses the Sapir-Whorf Relativity Hypothesis, Behaviourist Ethnolinguistics, the Ethnography of Speaking introduced by Dell Hymes, Ethnosemantics, and the typological frameworks of Michael Silverstein.
What scientific methods are utilized by the researchers mentioned?
Researchers utilize methods ranging from participant observation and semantic fieldwork to componential analysis of kinship terms and the analysis of taxonomic naming structures.
How is the "Ethnography of Speaking" defined in the text?
It is defined as a branch of linguistics that examines the diversity of language use in various cultures by making inferences from ethnographic data to determine the social functions of language.
Why are keywords like "Weltanschauung" central to this study?
The term "Weltanschauung" (worldview) is essential because it captures the central debate regarding how cultural beliefs and linguistic categories shape the way different groups perceive and categorize their surroundings.
How does Michael Silverstein’s work contribute to the field?
Silverstein contributes by exploring the systematic relationship between native speaker awareness of language and its actual usage, particularly through his study of case-marking systems and "metapragmatic" transparency.
What does the text suggest about the role of language in national identity?
Drawing on the work of Joshua Fishman, the text highlights that language often serves as both a symbol of ethnic collectivity and an instrument for maintaining cultural continuity and national identity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- MA Guido Maiwald (Autor:in), 1999, Approaches in Anthropological Linguistics, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/125171
