POPULAR IDEAS ABOUT POPULAR IDEAS ABOUT LANGUAGELANGUAGE

KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTS

PALING 2007PALING 2007

LANGUAGE AND THOUGTHLANGUAGE AND THOUGTH

• There is a close relationshipThere is a close relationship

• Language explains reactions not Language explains reactions not emotionsemotions

• 3 Hypothesis: they are separated but 3 Hypothesis: they are separated but dependent; they are identical; they dependent; they are identical; they are in a middle pointare in a middle point

• Sapir-Whorf: Lang. Determines the Sapir-Whorf: Lang. Determines the way we thinkway we think

LANGUAGE AND THOUGTHLANGUAGE AND THOUGTH• What kind of thinking does language involve? What kind of thinking does language involve?

• Which are the hypotheses about the Which are the hypotheses about the relationship between language and thought?relationship between language and thought?

• Which are the principles in the Sapir-Whorf Which are the principles in the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis? hypothesis?

• Which are the examples that Whorf used to Which are the examples that Whorf used to illustrate his  view illustrate his  view

• What does the weaker version of Sapir-Whorf What does the weaker version of Sapir-Whorf generally accepted say about language? generally accepted say about language?

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGEFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

• Communication of ideas in an emotional wayCommunication of ideas in an emotional way• As a means of social interaction in order to As a means of social interaction in order to

keep comfortable relationships between peoplekeep comfortable relationships between people• Control of reality or forces (magic, religion)Control of reality or forces (magic, religion)• Recording facts to keep information for further Recording facts to keep information for further

generationgeneration• Help us in the process of thinking. An “inner Help us in the process of thinking. An “inner

speech” that evokes a secuence of thoughts.speech” that evokes a secuence of thoughts.• Expression of personal identity: who we are Expression of personal identity: who we are

and where we belong.and where we belong.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGELANGUAGE• Why is language called referential, Why is language called referential,

propositional or ideational?propositional or ideational?• Why do we use some linguistic Why do we use some linguistic

expressions of emotions?expressions of emotions?• How does social interaction affect our How does social interaction affect our

use of language?use of language?• What happen to women of Central What happen to women of Central

Africa?Africa?• Why do children repeat rhythms?Why do children repeat rhythms?

THE MAGIC OF LANGUAGETHE MAGIC OF LANGUAGE

• Is present in its written and oral form.Is present in its written and oral form.• The special powers language has.The special powers language has.• Verbal taboos to refer to certain Verbal taboos to refer to certain

forbidden acts. Characterised by the forbidden acts. Characterised by the use of euphemisms and use of euphemisms and circumlocutions.circumlocutions.

• Proper names have a particular Proper names have a particular significance in their use: avoid the use significance in their use: avoid the use of names of dead people.of names of dead people.

THE MAGIC OF LANGUAGETHE MAGIC OF LANGUAGE• What is the relationship between "the magic What is the relationship between "the magic

of language" and some religious beliefs?of language" and some religious beliefs?• What does verbal taboos refer to?What does verbal taboos refer to? • According to verbal taboos, what are the According to verbal taboos, what are the

main forbidden themes? How does society main forbidden themes? How does society deal with them?deal with them?

• What is the relationship between death and What is the relationship between death and verbal taboos? verbal taboos?

• What is the difference between euphemisms What is the difference between euphemisms and circumlocutions? Give some examples.and circumlocutions? Give some examples.

THE EQUALITY OF THE EQUALITY OF LANGUAGESLANGUAGES• Language functions in their own communities Language functions in their own communities

according to their psychological and social according to their psychological and social needs.needs.

• A primitive language is percieved as having a A primitive language is percieved as having a simple grammar, a limited vocabulary and also simple grammar, a limited vocabulary and also is associated to the use of gestures. is associated to the use of gestures.

• Languages are percieved as excellent Languages are percieved as excellent because of tradition, and the influence they because of tradition, and the influence they have had on literature and the new have had on literature and the new generations. generations.

THE EQUALITY OF THE EQUALITY OF LANGUAGESLANGUAGES• How does language relate to our religious, How does language relate to our religious,

spiritual or supernatural beliefs?spiritual or supernatural beliefs?• Why do we store information? What kind Why do we store information? What kind

of record keeping do we have and what of record keeping do we have and what are its characteristics?are its characteristics?

• How useful can  expressing our thoughts How useful can  expressing our thoughts aloud be?aloud be?

• What can our uses of language tell about What can our uses of language tell about us?us?

• What does the concept of "inner speech" What does the concept of "inner speech" consist of?consist of?

THE ACADEMIES/ LANGUAGE THE ACADEMIES/ LANGUAGE CHANGECHANGE• Academy: institution created to protect the Academy: institution created to protect the

prescriptive stadars of a language.prescriptive stadars of a language.• In England there were proposals for an acadamy In England there were proposals for an acadamy

in the 17th century. There were two different in the 17th century. There were two different points of view: if the language had to be points of view: if the language had to be protected or if changes had to be allowed.protected or if changes had to be allowed.

• People who’re against change think that it means People who’re against change think that it means deterioration and decay.deterioration and decay.

• Problems of linguistic change: It’d cause Problems of linguistic change: It’d cause unintelligibility, ambiguity and social division.unintelligibility, ambiguity and social division.

• Nowadays it’s important to teach the standrs of a Nowadays it’s important to teach the standrs of a language but also how to recognize some language but also how to recognize some varieties of it.varieties of it.

THE ACADEMIES/ LANGUAGE THE ACADEMIES/ LANGUAGE CHANGECHANGE

• What is a linguistic academy? What is its What is a linguistic academy? What is its purpose?purpose?

• Which was the first linguistic academy? Which was the first linguistic academy? Where was it created?Where was it created?

• Some people think language change is not Some people think language change is not good. Why do they think that?good. Why do they think that?

• Which are some of the problems that Which are some of the problems that linguistic change can cause?linguistic change can cause?

• What would be a solution in multi-ethnic What would be a solution in multi-ethnic societies to deal with possible problems of societies to deal with possible problems of language change?language change?

THE PRESCRIPTIVE THE PRESCRIPTIVE TRADITIONTRADITION• No part of society or social behaviour is extempt No part of society or social behaviour is extempt

(Bloomfield created three levels of response (Bloomfield created three levels of response people give to language)people give to language)

• Differences between prescrive and proscribe Differences between prescrive and proscribe usages of language rely on rules, these can be usages of language rely on rules, these can be follow and the others avoided. follow and the others avoided.

• Radical Liberalism: Grammarians are seen as Radical Liberalism: Grammarians are seen as people who do not care about standars of people who do not care about standars of language.language.

• Elitist Conservatism: They are adherents to Elitist Conservatism: They are adherents to historical tradition and therefore follow rules historical tradition and therefore follow rules about language.about language.

THE PRESCRIPTIVE THE PRESCRIPTIVE TRADITIONTRADITION• According to L. Bloomfield: What are the According to L. Bloomfield: What are the

three levels given to  people's response to three levels given to  people's response to language?language?

• What do we mean with proscribe usages of What do we mean with proscribe usages of language? Give some examples in Spanish language? Give some examples in Spanish and Englishand English

• In your own words, give a brief definition of In your own words, give a brief definition of prescriptivism and descriptivism. prescriptivism and descriptivism.

• What would be a concrete example of how What would be a concrete example of how are both approaches of language realized in are both approaches of language realized in writing?writing?

• What are the "political names" given to the What are the "political names" given to the opposition between prescriptivism and opposition between prescriptivism and descriptivism?descriptivism?