The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology

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The Anthropology of Language An Introduction to
Linguistic Anthropology
Chapter 10 Doing Linguistic Anthropology
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Doing Linguistic Anthropology

• Language extinction and revitalization. . .
• Unmasking hidden bias in language. . .
• Linguistic Anthropology today. . .
• Using linguistic anthropology. . . .

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Language Extinction

• How many languages in the world?
• 6,300 current estimate
• How many are at risk (under 20,000 speakers)?
• Nearly 4,000
• How many have fewer than 100 speakers?
• Nearly 500.

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The Indo-European Family
www.zompist.com/languages.html
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Other Language Families
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The Current Situation

• 5,000-6,000 languages in the world
• depending on definition of language, dialect
• some still undiscovered, undescribed
• some on the verge of extinction
• what do we lose when we lose a language?
• is English becoming a world language?
• Advantages, disadvantages?.

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Geographic VariationAmerican English Dialects
PBS Do you speak American?
Mapping American English
Pop vs soda
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Language Revitalization

• Factors that can help (Yamamoto)
• Dominant culture favors linguistic diversity
• Speakers have strong sense of ethnic identity
• There are educational/cultural programs
• There are bilingual programs in the schools
• Native speakers are trained as language teachers
• The speech community is involved
• There are easy-to-use language materials
• There is literature in the language
• There are environments where the language is used.

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Hidden Bias in Language Gender

• Marked and unmarked forms
• Are unmarked forms really neutral?
• Words and metaphors
• Descriptors handsome, pleasant
• Metaphors IDEAS are BUILDINGS
• Discourse
• Address forms
• Hello, girls / Greetings, professor

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Hidden Bias in Language Racism

• The non-neutrality of unmarked forms
• The New World, Indians, Americans, Conquerors.
• Words and metaphors
• A white lie
• The dark side
• Discourse
• Mock Spanish a site for the unconscious
  reproduction of racism (Jane Hill).

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Linguistic Anthropology Today

• Increasing focus on discourse
• Language in cultural settings
• Language as a cultural resource
• Speaking as a cultural practice
• Communicating across cultures
• With renewed attention to descriptive analysis
• And renewed attention to language origins
• Maintaining a four-field focus.

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Using Linguistic Anthropology

• Learning new languages
• a fieldwork approach
• Learning new languacultures (Agar)
• Ethnosemantics
• FBI applications
• Rich Points on the MAR
• Reading and thinking critically about language,
  and more.
• Understanding Prejudice

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Never forget!!

• The importance of ethics
• being a good guest
• adapting to different living styles
• adjusting frames of reference
• providing culturally relevant assistance
• doing no harm
• the AAA code of ethics
• http//www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethcode.ht
  m

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Next

• Workbook Chapter 10
• Guided Project Journals all Extra Credit
• DUE NEXT THURSDAY
• Language Creating
• Prepare your skits (everyone should be present)
• Hand in your project books for grading (remember
  consistency counts)
• Conversation Partnering
• Saying goodbye and thank you!
• OR
• Arranging to stay in touch with your
• Preparing for the final exam
• Study guide with essay questions on Thursday
• Study questions on the companion web site.