Culture and Language Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos 1 June 2009 Linguistic Relativity Linguistic Relativity: To what extent does speaking a specific language influence one’s thinking? – Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Language does not simply communicate ideas but also shapes thought • Language determines cognition – Whorf compared European languages to Native American languages • Found many commonalities in the structure of European languages • Many differences between European and Native American languages Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos – Hopi’s do not have a strong emphasis on time, and have no words in their language to refer to time Linguistic Differences Words within a language for certain categories of objects makes it easier to discriminate those objects in the environment – Inuits (close to the North Pole) have many words for snow – Aztecs (close to the equator) have one word for snow, cold, and ice Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Linguistic Relativity and Memory Asian languages and English differ in their structure of numbers – Asian: ten one – European: eleven – Asian children perform better in mathematics than American children – Asian children can remember a larger number of digits than American children • Length of time to pronounce number words Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Language and Space Ideas about space and spatial orientation differ between Western and non-Western societies – Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis: The differences in perception of space are due to the differences in language used to describe space • English: Location of objects is described based on personal orientation (description of orientation changes when a person moves) • Other Languages: Description of orientation of objects based on absolute orientation Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Language and Space English speaking participants tend to choose the card in the same position from their orientation Other language participants with a geocentric orientation tended to choose the cards with the same compass direction (Levinson, 1998) Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Linguistic Relativity Research has not found substantial contributions of language to differences in thinking – Instead, specific differences in language influences specific differences in interpreting the environment Speakers are guided by specific aspects of their language to pay attention to specific aspects of their experiences – The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis describes how language influences the schema used to give meaning to an experience Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Linguistic Universality Research on deaf children shows that cognition can develop without language Linguistic Universality Hypothesis: Humans have an innate tendency for language – Deaf children use language-like structures in their gestures, whereas hearing children only use a single gesture Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Linguistic Universality Language Acquisition Device (LAD): Innate potential for language – Properties of the LAD should be present in all languages • Constraint on word order: Sentence word order objectsubject-verb does not exist in language • All languages have nouns and verbs – Not all languages have adjectives • Intonation: Higher pitch indicates emphasis, voice is lowered toward the end of a monologue – In some languages, the tone of a word changes the meaning Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Bilingualism Psychological issues in bilingualism: – Nature of bilingualism • Not sum of two languages, but is a unique, complex linguistic system – Assessment of bilingualism • Do not give two monolingual tests, but instead a holistic estimate of bilingual competence – Cognitive and social consequences of bilingualism • Early research showed bilingual children were retarded in cognitive development • Newer research controlled for economic status and found that bilingual children were ahead of their monolingual, same SES peers Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Bilingualism Bilingual children tend to have better cognitive flexibility, divergent thinking, and creativity Bilingual children have better metalinguistic awareness – Metalinguistic Awareness: A greater sensitivity to language, the rules of language, and appropriate use of language Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Bilingualism Additive Bilingualism: Learning multiple languages is socially valued – A second language does not threaten the use of a first language Subtractive Bilingualism: Learning a second language does threaten learning of the first language Metalinguistic benefits may only result in additive bilingualist societies Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos Revision What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis? What have psychologists concluded about the validity of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis? What is the theory of Linguistic Universality? What is support for this theory? Compare and contrast additive and subtractive bilingualism. Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
© Copyright 2024 ExpyDoc
