110 likes | 533 Views
The Relationship of Language and Culture. Language. It is the principal means by which we conduct our social lives It becomes connected to culture when used in ‘contexts of communication’ Language expresses cultural reality Language embodies cultural reality
E N D
Language • It is the principal means by which we conduct our social lives • It becomes connected to culture when used in ‘contexts of communication’ • Language expresses cultural reality • Language embodies cultural reality • Language symbolizes cultural reality (a system of sign)
Nature, culture, language • Culture: refers to what has been grown and groomed. • Nature vs. Nurture (clip 1) • Nature & culture both need each other • e.g. “The general rose” in poem • Relationship: • Nature : rose • Culture : forces transforming nature (‘screws’/ common assumptions & expectations) • Language: immortalizing nature (rose/lady/poet) by ‘word’
Emily Dickinson • Essential Oils - are wrung – • The Attar from the Rose • Be not expressed by Suns - alone – • It is the gift of Screws - • The General Rose - decay – But this - in Lady's Drawer Make Summer - When the Lady lie In Ceaseless Rosemary -
Speech community - Particular meanings adopted by the speech community and imposed on its members - example roses (clip 2) • Socialization - Social dos and don’t’s that shape pplbehaviour in both speaking & writing - Invisible ritual imposed by culture on lang. users (to bring order & predictability)
Communities of Language users • 3 ways of viewing culture (social/ historical/ metaphorical) • 1/ Social: • Speech community; • Composed of ppl who use the same linguistic code • Discourse community: • The common ways in which members of a social group use language to meet their social needs (keyword: common purpose) (clip 10) • Discourse accent: • e.g. topics/ style of speech/ way of interaction…
2/ Historical - the culture of everyday practices draws on the culture of shared history and tradition. - diachronic view - e.g. Eiffel tower/ Mona Lisa • ‘Sociocultural context’ of language study • (social + historical views of culture)
Imagined Communities • 3 . The metaphorical way of viewing culture: • Discourse communities: - (facts + dreams + imaginings) - imaginings are mediated through language • e.g. 1- London culture (Shakespeare) 2- “I have a dream” (clip 3)
Insiders / Outsiders • Orientalism • Hegemonic • e.g. Edward Said (clip 4)