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Geography of Language

Geography of Language. The Geography of Language. What is language? “The use by human beings of voice sounds, and often of written symbols that represent these sounds in organized combinations and patterns to express and communicate thoughts and feelings” (American Heritage Dictionary) .

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Geography of Language

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  1. Geography of Language

  2. The Geography of Language What is language? • “The use by human beings of voice sounds, and often of written symbols that represent these sounds in organized combinations and patterns to express and communicate thoughts and feelings” (American Heritage Dictionary). • Language: “an organized system of spoken words by which people communicate with each other with mutual comprehension”

  3. The Geography of Language The Importance of Language • Communication • Language is a set of culturally agreed upon symbols • Variation in language such as ‘dialect’ causes formation of different cultural groups. Dialects can be used to define smaller cultural regions • Economic and religious systems often follow language patterns.

  4. Classification of Language Three Types of Language • Dead Language: a language that does not have native speakers (e.g., Latin, ancient Greek, Sumerian, Manx) • Moribund Language: A language that still have native speakers but is no longer being acquired by children (e.g., many Amerindian languages) • Living Language (in use today)

  5. Classification of Language • How many languages are there is the world today? • 6,703…ish 2009 Data

  6. Classification of Language Classifying Languages • The most commonly used system of demarcating cultural regions on the basis of language is through language families • Language families: a group of related languages derived from an earlier common language • Branch: Languages derived from a common origin, but having split into individual languages • Group: Several languages sharing recent common origin, similar grammar/vocabulary (e.g. dialect, slang, accent and pronunciation)

  7. Classification of Language • Reveals: • Regional distribution • Major families • Small scale (large area) map conceals detail: • Multiple languages • Local languages • Number of speakers

  8. Classification of Language 1000-2000 Amerindian dialects lost Of the 800+ current Amerindian languages in the Americas, 500 are endangered or worse…

  9. The Spread of Language • Language spreads as a result of many types of diffusion: • Expansion diffusion -- Hierarchical diffusion • Relocation diffusion How has the internet helped spread English?

  10. Language change • Isolation promotes language diversity • Ideological isolation • Physical isolation • Mountainous areas • Islands • Oceans

  11. Language Change Internal influences Innovation (Technology, Society) Imitation Unconscious change External influences Reduced isolation New ideas, innovations Trade & commerce Borrowed words Processes of Change • Borrowed Words • French: • Faux pas • Camouflage • Denim • Mayonnaise • Italy • Staccato • Corridor • Farsi: • Pyjama • Bazaar • Iroquois: • Canada • Anerican Indian: • Moose • Skunk • Corn • Hurricane • http://www.krysstal.com/borrow.html

  12. Updating the Oxford Dictionary • “Our language is transforming, and at Oxford Dictionaries we closely monitor the changes that are taking place” (Oxford Dictionary of English 2nd ed.) • New words (Nov. 2011) • clicktivism • crowdfunding • fracking • Tiger mother • wOOt • brain candy • Changing words: • sick (bad)  sick (good) • Skinny (thin)  skinny (non-fat milk) • Bad (bad) bad (good)

  13. Standards and Dialects • ‘Standard Language’ (or ‘language standard’) • Informal agreement on ‘best’ or ‘correct’ dialect: • Pronunciation • Word choice • Grammar • Can change rapidly • Influential leader • Government decree • Corporate decree • Business Speak? 2007 • 404 – someone who is clueless (from Web error message “404 not found”) • Blamestorming –a group discussion of why a deadline was missed and who was responsible • Bookmark – to take note of a person for future reference • Cube farm– an office filled with cubicles

  14. Dialects • Dialect: A recognizable variation from the standard • Vocabulary • Pronunciation • Spelling AND ALSO • Cadence (rhythm of speech) • Pace of speech • Syntax (the way words are put together to form phrases) • Social dialect: dialect conveying social status, class, educational level, etc. • Regional dialects: • Isolation • Greater isolation = more regional dialects • Imitation among local community New immigrants attempt to fit in by changing speech patterns

  15. Regional vocabulary: Word Boundaries = Isolgloss Long sandwich with cold cuts, lettuce, etc.? • sub (77.15%) • grinder (2.87%) • hoagie (6.98%) • hero (5.18%) • Po’ boy (1.77%) • Italian sandwich (0.46%)

  16. Regional vocabulary

  17. Amalgamation: occurs where 2 or more languages overlap Pidgin: Not native to any speaker Simple: grammar, vocabulary Used for specific venues, functions Improvised, not learned natively Creole: When pidgin becomes a ‘first’ language of a group Becomes more complex E.g.: Haitian Creole (derived from French), Louisiana Creole “Amalgamated languages” Lingua Franca: common language spoken by peoples with different native tongues. E.g.: English and French often used for international diplomacy • Indonesian: • Pidgin Malay • Invented to unite 300+ dialects • Examples: • eat: “makan” • eaten: “Sudah makan” • Not eaten yet: “belum makan” • eating: “makan”

  18. Louisiana Creole Numbers NumberLouisiana CreoleFrench 1 en un 2 de deux 3 trwatrois 4 katrquatre 5 senkcinq 6 sis six 7 set sept 8 wit huit 9 nefneuf 10 disdix

  19. Language and Identity • Language a defining feature of cultures • Loss or erosion  loss of cultural identity • Resurgence/expansion: cultural strength • Colonization: often direct attacks on language  cultural domination 1920s Indian Act "It was through language that children received their cultural heritage from parents and community. It was the vital connection that civilizers knew had to be cut if progress was to be made... Aboriginal languages could not carry the burden of civilization” (Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996)

  20. Renaming and identity • NWTNunavut • Resolute Bay  Kaujuitok • Frobisher bay  Iqaluit • Indian Colonial city names: • Bombay  Mumbai • Calcutta  Kolkata • Madras  Chennai

  21. Toponymy: Study of place names Historical and cultural geography Linguistic geography Indicative of: Migration E.g. “New England”, “New Amsterdam” (NY city); French names in Louisiana Changes in power and influence Colonial renaming of local places Post-colonial independence SW 8th St. Miami (Little Havana) Toponymys

  22. Toponymys Top Twenty Town Names in America: • Ah! Wilderness CO • Aloha OR • Belt Buckle TN • Black Cat DE • Blue Eyes AR • Red Eye VA • Nameless TN • No Name CO • Nothing AZ • Purgatory CO • Peculiar MO • Resume Speed TX • Total Wreck AZ • Tranquility CA • You Bet CA • Ding Dong TX (located in Bell County) • 96 SC • What Cheer? IA (the only U. S. town that's questionable) • Agawam MA 01001 (the lowest zip code in the U. S.) • Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada HOHOHO

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