World View: A Case Study

1. World View: A Case Study Cognitive Linguistics 109 Kristen Lacefield

2. Overview of Theoretical Concepts • Language is the play of verbal symbols that are based on imagery. • Words are linked to conceptual shades that inhabit the world of our imagination.

3. What Is Imagery? • Basic sense perception, cognitive models, symbols, image-schemas, prototypes, basic categories, complex categories, metaphor, metonymy, social scenarios, figures and grounds, profiles and bases, perspectives/ orientations/points of view. • Language grows out of imagery to represent the environment in a certain way.

4. Cultural Linguistics • Cultural Linguistics =Linguistic Anthropology + Cognitive Linguistics • Linguistic Anthropology: Boasian Linguistics, Ethnosemantics, Ethnography of Speaking (ES)

5. Boasian: looks at the ways underlying classifications of experience are delineated by language; also looks at the psychological basis of language • Ethnosemantics: study of the ways in which different cultures organize and categorize domains of knowledge • ES: speakers intentionally apply linguistic resources for social and cultural ends; the linguistic competence of speakers involves the ability to use language pragmatically in specific social and cultural contexts

6. How is Cultural Linguistics Differentiated From Strictly Cognitive Linguistics? • Cultural Linguistics Places More Emphasis on Culture, Discourse, Narrative, and World View.

7. World View • World View is the Cognitive Orientation and Perspective of a Society, Subgroup, or Individual • Language Often Refers to Cultural Images and Is Relative to Images Drawn From World View

8. http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&KEY=&SPID=2027&SPSID=25937http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&KEY=&SPID=2027&SPSID=25937

9. A Case Study in World View: The Duke Lacrosse Scandal • Primary Questions: • What world views can be identified in the Duke scandal discourse? How is certain language employed to evoke specific images and particular world views? • What are the various motivations for the employment of specific language?

10. Defense’s Side “stripper” (this employs a world view of sexual work as indicative of low character “discrediting criminal history” (world view in which any serious criminal record indicates the accuser is lying) Prosecution’s Side “exotic dancer” (the use of this term attempts to counteract the defense’s world view) “irrelevant criminal history” (world view in which only certain past crimes really ‘count’) Separate Perspectives

11. Defense * “overzealous prosecutor” “political” “media-hound” “rush to judgment” (world view of unfair and overzealous prosecution) “drug addict” “slut” “ho” “emotionally disturbed” “criminal” (employs negative perspectives about the accuser) Prosecution “dog-and-pony show defense” “Clintonesque defense” “high-powered defense lawyers” (world view of defense lawyers as sleazy liars) single mother of two” “Navy veteran” (employs positive perspectives about the victim)

12. Defense “protection of the accused” “innocent until proven guilty” “alleged incident” “mere speculation” “boys” “abandoned by Duke” “normal college-age behavior” (world view of innocent boys who engaged in normal behavior) “trashy” “low-class” accuser (world view of poverty as being inherently immoral) Prosecution “victim’s rights” “men” “males” “jocks” “blue code of silence” “stonewalling” “exotic sex party” (employs world view of grown men being responsible for reprehensible behavior) “privileged” “rich” defendents (world view of wealth as being immoral)

13. Media-Imposed Metonymy (a group of unruly athletes stand for Duke, an exotic dancer with a criminal history stands for Durham) • Media commentary: “terrible town-gown relations” “community crisis” “racial powder-keg” • Duke response: “vibrant community” “symbiotic relationship” “diverse community and diverse school” “stellar academic reputation” “Ivy-League caliber”

14. General Conclusions • Those on the side of the prosecution employ language that draws from several world views to create sympathy for the accuser and an unfavorable feeling for the accused. • Those on the side of the defense draw from different world views to create sympathy for the accused and distaste for the accuser.

15. The media employs specific language and draws upon certain imagery to create interest in the story. The emphasis is on the idea of class and racial division within the community and the threat of an explosion of tension in Durham. Duke responds by drawing upon a different world view and employing different imagery in its response. It’s focus is on social cohesiveness and its contribution to the community. It also employs a world view in which academic excellence equals moral and ethical worth.

16. In Closing, A Final Profound Thought From The Reverend Jesse Jackson (explaining his decision to pay the accuser’s tuition): “Conservatives like to say, ‘Don’t abort…adopt.’ I say, ‘Don’t strip…scholarship.”

17. Sources • Palmer, Gary. Toward A Theory of Cultural Linguistics. Austin: UT Press, 1996. • Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, Duke Chronicle, Durham Herald-Sun, Newsweek Magazine, Website of Duke University