Chapter 7-Verbal The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Cultural Variations in Language Discourse: Language and Power Moving Between Languages Language and Identity Language Politics and Policies Language and Globalization The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Language Versus Discourse 1. La langue (language) - the entire language system, including various forms such as pidgin and creole. 2. La parole (discourse) - how language is actively used by particular communities of people, in particular contexts, for particular purposes. The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Components of Language Semantics Syntactics Phonology Morphology Pragmatics Phonetics International Phonetic Alphabet Definition of Verbal Codes Morphology: The meaning units Syntactics: The relationship of words to one another (arrangement) Pragmatics: The effect of language on perceptions and behaviors Definition of Verbal Codes Verbal Codes: a set of rules about the use of words Semantics: The study of the meaning of words Phonology: The sound units of language The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Language and Meaning: What language issues are universal? The power of language Systems of difference influence how we classify the world. Expressions may not communicate the same meanings in different cultures. The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Language and Meaning: What language issues are universal? Osgood’s semantic differential: - Evaluative dimension - Potency dimension - Activity dimension The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically Language and Perception: The nominalist position: Perception is not shaped by the particular language we speak. The relativist position (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis): The particular language we speak determines our thinking and perception of reality. The qualified relativist position: Language is a tool rather than a mirror of perception. Cultural Variations in Language Communication Style (verbal and nonverbal): Tonal coloring or the metamessage contextualizes how listeners accept and interpret verbal messages. Some cultural groups prefer highcontext communication over lowcontext communication styles. Cultural Variations in Language Other Dimensions of Communication Style: Direct/Indirect Elaborate/Exact/Succinct People communicate differently in different speech communities and contexts. Discourse: Language and Power Co-cultural communication Language in use depends on social relations as well as contexts. Orbe: Groups with the most power consciously or unconsciously develop communication systems that support their perceptions of the world, in which groups without power must also function. Discourse: Language and Power Orbe’s Co-cultural communication strategies: Nonassertive separation Nonassertive accommodation Nonassertive assimilation Assertive separation Assertive accommodation Assertive assimilation Aggressive separation Aggressive accommodation Aggressive assimilation Discourse: Language and Power Semiotics - how different discursive units communicate meaning Semiosis is the process of producing meaning. Meaning is constructed through the interpretation of signs. Signifiers are culturally constructed, arbitrary words or symbols we use to refer to something else, the signified. Discourse: Language and Power Discourse and Social Structure: Societies are structured so that individuals occupy specific social positions. Power and labels: The use of labels, as signifiers, acknowledges particular aspects of our social identity. Moving Between Languages Multilingualism - A bilingual person speaks two languages. - People who speak more than two languages are multilingual. - Interlanguage is a kind of communication that emerges when speakers of one language are speaking in another language. Moving Between Languages Translation and Interpretation - Translation refers to the process of producing a written text (the target text) that refers to something said or written in another language (the source text). - Interpretation refers to the process of verbally expressing what is said or written in another language. Moving Between Languages Translation and Interpretation (cont.) - Languages differ in their flexibility of expression for different topics, which makes accuracy in translation, or equivalency, even more difficult. Language and Identity Code switching refers to the phenomenon of changing languages, dialects, or accents. - to accommodate other speakers - to avoid accommodating others - to express another aspect of their cultural identity Code switching can take on important political meaning. Language Politics and Policies Language policies are laws or customs that determine which language is spoken where and when. They are embedded in the politics of class, culture, ethnicity, and economics--not language quality. Language and Globalization Rapid changes are occurring in the languages spoken and learned in the world. The dream of a common international language or lingua franca has long marked Western ways of thinking. Today, the dominance of English raises important issues for intercultural communication. E. Meanings are Context- Based III. Message Characteristics A. Messages are Packaged = to create a unified meaning Messages are RuleGoverned C. Vary in Abstraction D. Vary in Directness