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Lecture 9

Lecture 9 Relationship between Language and Culture Overview of Language & Culture Language is one of the main ways by which we send and receive messages. Throughout the world there are some 5,000 different languages. Only 20% have a written form; 80% are only spoken.

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Lecture 9

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  1. Lecture 9 Relationship between Language and Culture COM 340

  2. Overview of Language & Culture • Language is one of the main ways by which we send and receive messages. • Throughout the world there are some 5,000 different languages. • Only 20% have a written form; 80% are only spoken. • Our language is a product of our culture, and our culture is a product of our language. • The language we speak influences what we see and think, and what we see and think, in part, influences our culture. • Therefore, one can not become truly fluent in another language unless he also understands the cultural context in which to use that language. COM 340

  3. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis • From two famous linguists named Benjamin Whorf and his teacher Edward Sapir. • The central idea behind their theory, is that language is not merely a tool for reporting experience, but more importantly it is a shaper of ideas. • In other words, a language does not merely record and transmit perceptions and thoughts, it actually helps to shape them. • Language controls the way we think and perceive the world. It is the guide for our mental activity. COM 340

  4. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (con’t) • We understand and make sense of the world according to our mother language. • Because languages are self-contained and limited, it follows then that they would limit our view of and orientation in the world. • If this hypothesis is true, it is evident then that language plays a large and important role in culture. • With there being so many different languages with various characteristics in the world, we should expect to find significant and formidable barriers in language and thought for effective communication and understanding. COM 340

  5. Language affecting our View • To examine how language affects the way people view the world one can look at the words used in certain languages for certain things. • For example, various cultures have different ways of dividing the color spectrum, thereby illustrating that they view the world differently. COM 340

  6. Color Spectrum English Shona Bassa COM 340

  7. Culturally Salient Words • Each culture has certain items which are very salient (important) to that culture. • Japanese: many words for fish and sea products. • Some names of a fish change as they grow. • English “seaweed” - Japanese nori, wakame, konbu, mozuku, hijiki • Different words for rice depending on if it is raw or cooked and how it is served. • Raw uncooked rice - kome • Cooked rice served in a bowl - gohan • Cooked rice served on a plate - raisu COM 340

  8. Japanese Seaweed nori wakame konbu mozuku hijiki COM 340

  9. Japanese Names for Rice kome gohan raisu COM 340

  10. Culturally Salient Words (con’t) • English: many words for types of meat, ways to cut, and ways to cook. COM 340

  11. Beef Parts COM 340

  12. Beef Skeleton COM 340

  13. Beef Cattle Breeds (33) Angus Chiangus Pinzgauer Barzona Devon Red Angus Beefalo Gelbvieh Red Poll Beefmaster Hereford, Horned Salers Belgian Blue Hereford, Polled Santa Gertrudis Belted Galloway Limousin Scotch Highland Blonde D'Aquitaine Maine Anjou Senepol Brahman Marchigiana Shorthorn Brangus Murray Grey Simmental Charolais Normande South Devon Chianina Parthenais Tarentaise Texas Longhorn COM 340

  14. Dairy Cattle Breeds (6) • Ayshire • Brown Swiss • Guernsey • Holstein • Jersey • Milking Shorthorn COM 340

  15. Language-Culture Connection • Some words and phrases are so connected to the language and culture that they are used, that they are difficult to translate into another language. • English: fair play, privacy or independence • Japanese: filled with language that humbles the speaker and raises the level of the person being spoken to. • No single verb for “lock” - must say “close with a key.” (kagi de shimeru) COM 340

  16. Language-Culture Connection (con’t) • Each language associates certain words with certain ideas or concepts. • Activity: Write down the first words that come to mind in the order that you think of them, for the word you will see next. COM 340

  17. marriage COM 340

  18. Trilingual study - “Marriage” • Americans equality sharing love togetherness • French passion sexuality • Japanese children family end-of-the-line pessimistic COM 340

  19. Survey of Japanese Univ. StudentsMale Female baby husband banzai independence bridal party life bride knife cake married life ceremony name change child partner’s parents dowry propose dress ring engagement ring shotgun wedding groom wedding dress happy wife honeymoon bouquet cake child church congratulations divorce flower honeymoon June bride responsibility ring tears wedding dress wedding reception white COM 340

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