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Linguistics

Linguistics. One of several things that separates us from the animals. Sort of. First, Wade Davis Reading. Things to look for: What is meant by “over half of the intellectual legacy of humanity”? How many languages has the world seen? How many are currently viable?

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Linguistics

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  1. Linguistics One of several things that separates us from the animals. Sort of.

  2. First, Wade Davis Reading • Things to look for: • What is meant by “over half of the intellectual legacy of humanity”? • How many languages has the world seen? How many are currently viable? • What are the only viable native languages in the U.S. and Canada? • Look for comparisons between language and biology • Should the loss of languages concern us?

  3. Communication and Language • One of the most significant human developments • Contemplate the extreme complexity of human language • No really, contemplate it, now!

  4. Some extreme examples . . . • Helen Keller • Struck deaf and blind by childhood illness • Learns by teacher spelling into her palm – W-A-T-E-R  once understanding, was able to learn very rapidly • “. . . I saw everything with a strange, new sight . . .” • Compare to conceptualization of words • Anna and Isabelle – Sociology story – highlights the social nature of humans • Necessity of communication in social development

  5. Communication • Agreement, conscious or otherwise, to call something something • Old Giesenism about cats and boogers • We could just as easily have called a cat a booger and then say, “I have a pet booger.” • Colors • Pretty much literally anything that has a word • Words have their meaning due to agreements by the speakers of a language that it should be so

  6. Communication cont’d • Idea of agreement between speakers works for other forms of language • Body language for example • Key is all language is SYMBOLIC

  7. Symbolic Nature of Language • Has meaning even when referent is not present • “cat” still means “cat” even when a “cat” isn’t present • Meaning is arbitrary (except with onomatopoeia) • Meaning is not necessarily inferred in word alone • Context clues, universal understanding

  8. Animal Language • Language/Communication not remotely only the realm of humans • Body Language • Bees dance, wolves use posture • Odor • Marking territory, “Life/Death Chemicals” in ants (necrophoresis, or cleaning out of dead members of a society) • Sound • Bird song, angry squirrel growling

  9. Full-on Symbolic Verbal Language? • Vervet Monkeys • At least three different calls for different threats • Eagles, pythons, leopards • Monkeys react differently depending on which call is used • Look skyward for “eagle” for example • Show active teaching/learning

  10. Key differences between animal kingdom and human language • Human complexity – ambiguity possible • Typical animal language is “closed” system • Different “words” or sounds are not combined in meaningful ways to make more complex “words” • Human systems are “open” • EXAMPLES???

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