Anthropology 340
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Basic Terms
Kimberly Porter Martin
Culture is
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Abstract
Learned
Shared
Rules/patterns/templates
Used to generate behavior
Used to understand
experiences
Culture
Definition: the
abstract, learned,
shared
rules/patterns/templates
for generating behavior
and understanding
experience.
Communication is Necessary
for Culture to be Shared
DEFINITION
• Communication
is transferring
information
from one entity
to another.
Communication
occurs at many levels
within and between
individual organisms
and between parts of
organisms. People talk
and gesture, while
organs in the body
communicate using
electrical and
chemical signals.
Kinds of Communication
between Humans
NonVerbal
Communication
• Kinesics
• Proxemics
• Social
Expectations
Verbal
Communication
• Language
(Speech)
• Paralanguage
Symbols vs Icons
Symbols
Icons
DEFINITION: A symbol is
something that
arbitrarily * represents
something else.
Language is made up of
symbols in the form of
sounds that arbitrarily*
stand for something
else.
OR of graphic
representations that
arbitrarily *stand for
something else.
DEFINITION: An icon is
something that
logically represents
something else.
Icons resemble the things
they represent so that
the representation is
obvious to anyone.
*Arbitrary means based on or
determined by individual
preference and not by a natural
connection.
Symbols
Freedom
&
Icons
Family
Pain
Sounds
Symbols
or
Icons?
Country
Sound for Pain
US
Ouch
South Africa
Italy
Eina (eye-na)
Ahia (eye-ah) or Ahio (eye-oh)
Japan
Otai (ita)
Brazil
Ai
Germany
Aua (ow-ah) or Au or Autch
Poland
Aua (ow-ah)
France
Aie (eye)
Spain
Uy (ooy)
China
Aiyo
Denmark
Av
Philippines
Aray or Aguy
India
Arghh
Sweden
Aj
Romania
Au or Af
Chile
Ay (a-eeh) or Au (A-ooh)
Animal Sounds:
Symbols or Icons
http://www.animalport.co
m/Animal-Sounds.html
Language is
1.Abstract (symbolic)
2.Learned
3.Shared
4.Rules/patterns/templates
5.Used to generate speech
6.Used to understand speech
Language
•Definition: the abstract,
learned, shared
rules/patterns/templates
for generating speech.
Society
Definition: a group
of people using a
shared culture
Society is the
concrete
manifestation of
culture.
Speech
Definition: the act of
communicating using
language
Speech is the concrete
manifestation of
language
Barnga Simulation
for on-campus classes
Powerpoint Study Guide
Culture
Abstract
Concrete
Learned
Shared
Communication
Verbal
Communication
Non-verbal
communication
Symbol
Icon
Arbitrary
Language
Society
Speech