Language

LinguisticsLinguistics

Language @ heart of cultureLanguage @ heart of culture W/o lang., culture cannot be passed onW/o lang., culture cannot be passed on Literary tradition Literary tradition cultural continuity cultural continuity

Ideograms v. alphabetsIdeograms v. alphabets Mandarin = oldest surviving writing systemMandarin = oldest surviving writing system Printing press!Printing press!

Between 4-8,000 different lang. (depends on Between 4-8,000 different lang. (depends on definition)definition) ((ethnologue.com lists 7,413) lists 7,413) 600+ in India600+ in India most aremost are 1000+ in Africa1000+ in Africa preliterate (writing)preliterate (writing)

Examples of the African Click LanguagesVocalizationVocalization is the crucial part of the def. of is the crucial part of the def. of

lang!lang!Xhosa language – South Africa Xhosa language – South Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZlp-croVYwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZlp-croVYw

Khoisan – Namibia Khoisan – Namibia – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz44WiTVJwwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz44WiTVJww

I. Language Classification

A. Language Family= collection of related langs. with a “prehistoric”

ancestor Indo-European is largest 50%; Sino-Tibetan (20%) is 2nd Afro-Asiatic (Northern Africa/Middle East) Austronesian (Southeast Asia) Niger-Congo (Sub-Saharan Africa) Dravidian (India)

Diffusion of Indo-European Diffusion of Indo-European languageslanguages

The origin of words we use all the timehttp://www.businessinsider.com/european-maps-showing-origins-of-common-words-2013 11?utm_content=bufferb7d3a&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Buffer

Hungarian surrounded by Indo-Hungarian surrounded by Indo-European languages! Why?European languages! Why?

B. Language Branch B. Language Branch

Collection of related langs. w/ a more recent Collection of related langs. w/ a more recent ancestorancestor

More recent language divergenceMore recent language divergenceIndo-European has 8 branches:Indo-European has 8 branches:

4 major:4 major: Germanic, Romance, Balto-Slavic, Indo-IranianGermanic, Romance, Balto-Slavic, Indo-Iranian

4 minor:4 minor: Hellenic, Albanian, Celtic, Armenian Hellenic, Albanian, Celtic, Armenian

C. Language Group C. Language Group

Common modern ancestor w/ similar Common modern ancestor w/ similar vocab. and grammarvocab. and grammar Ex: West Germanic v. North Germanic Ex: West Germanic v. North Germanic English is West GermanicEnglish is West Germanic

D. Language D. Language

i.e. English, Hindi, Arabic, etc.i.e. English, Hindi, Arabic, etc.

D. Dialects: Standard vs. vulgar

Standard language (standard “dialect”)Standard language (standard “dialect”)1.1. Sets quality of a lang., (part of cultural ID & Sets quality of a lang., (part of cultural ID &

national concern)national concern)2.2. May be sustained by gov’t policies (ex: tests for May be sustained by gov’t policies (ex: tests for

teachers or officials)teachers or officials)3.3. Powerful people decide the standard languagePowerful people decide the standard language

Ex of standard lang.:Ex of standard lang.: Chinese = “Mandarin”Chinese = “Mandarin” British English = “British Received Pronunciation”British English = “British Received Pronunciation” American Sign LanguageAmerican Sign Language

Why is British Received Pronunciation Why is British Received Pronunciation and American English so different?and American English so different?

What cohorts left Britain for the USA?What cohorts left Britain for the USA? Mostly lower/middle class immigrants (not speakers Mostly lower/middle class immigrants (not speakers

of BRP)of BRP) Webster Webster “national” American English dialect “national” American English dialect

B/c of time and isolation vocab. & pronunciation B/c of time and isolation vocab. & pronunciation considerably differentconsiderably different Different words for new inventionsDifferent words for new inventions Examples???Examples??? American vs. British English..American vs. British English..http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blbritam.htm?once=true&terms=british-american

English Dialects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6kAmy Walker 21 Accents (2:36)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NriDTxseogAmy Walker, How to do an American accent? (6:40)

Some other great video clips to introduce you to dialects and variations in language. The cockney pronunciation segment from My Fair Lady(the Rain in Spain) and the clip of Lucy and Ricky discussing how they (Ricky)will teach their child proper English pronunciationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJr9SSJKkII (4:47)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g10jFL423ho (5:25)

Vulgar DialectsVulgar Dialects

Variants of the standard lang.Variants of the standard lang. Regional accents reveal originRegional accents reveal origin Dialects marked by difference in vocab. = “isogloss”Dialects marked by difference in vocab. = “isogloss” Isogloss = line separating 2 diff. words 4 same concept = line separating 2 diff. words 4 same concept

Ex. “Coke” vs. “soda” vs. “pop” http://www.reelseo.com/best-vimeo-videos-november-2013/

Regional Variationshttp://www4.uwm.edu/FLL/linguistics/dialect/maps.html

More common More common dialects differ in pronunciation dialects differ in pronunciation IF 2 dialects become “mutually unintelligible” IF 2 dialects become “mutually unintelligible”

two separate languages emerge two separate languages emerge “language “language divergence”divergence”

Language DivergenceLanguage Divergence

The basic process: The basic process: timetime and and isolationisolation1.1. SeparationSeparation

2.2. Time & isolation Time & isolation branch into dialects branch into dialects

3.3. Dialects remain isolatedDialects remain isolated

4.4. Pronunciations change, new words created for Pronunciations change, new words created for new discoveriesnew discoveries

5.5. More time & isolation More time & isolation dialects become discrete dialects become discrete languages languages “mutually unintelligible” “mutually unintelligible”

Ex. Vulgar Latin Ex. Vulgar Latin Romance Languages Romance Languages

How does this relate to time-distance decay? How does this relate to time-distance decay?

II. Languages of the World II. Languages of the World

Our goal… Know what language/ language Our goal… Know what language/ language branch/ language family is spoken in almost branch/ language family is spoken in almost every place on Earth!!every place on Earth!!

1.1.Mandarin = most common primary lang.Mandarin = most common primary lang. Chinglish. Can it be translated to English? Chinglish. Can it be translated to English? http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/03/world/asia/20100503_CHINGLISH.html?_r=0

2.2. English = 2English = 2ndnd just passed … Spanish is 3 just passed … Spanish is 3rdrd then Hindi and Arabic. then Hindi and Arabic. *English lang. of 100s of millions*English lang. of 100s of millions

English official lang. 40+ countriesEnglish official lang. 40+ countries2 billion+ in a country w/ English official language2 billion+ in a country w/ English official languageWho is #2 in English speakers b/h U.S.?Who is #2 in English speakers b/h U.S.?

(India =“ 398 scheduled languages, 11 extinct”; 22 official (India =“ 398 scheduled languages, 11 extinct”; 22 official languages) Many not mutually understood. Each state has an official languages) Many not mutually understood. Each state has an official language!language!3. *Could English be spoken in some places JUST for business and 3. *Could English be spoken in some places JUST for business and not casually? Why and where?not casually? Why and where?

Six Official languages of U.N.? _________________Six Official languages of U.N.? _________________

The six official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. They are the mother tongue or second language of 2.8 billion people, nearly half the world population, and are official languages in more than half the States in the world.

Languages of Europe Languages of Europe

1.1. Indo-Euro. lang. dominatesIndo-Euro. lang. dominates

2.2. Language map & pol. boundaries usually Language map & pol. boundaries usually overlapoverlap

SW Europe is ___Romance___SW Europe is ___Romance___

NW Europe is __Germanic______NW Europe is __Germanic______

E. Europe is ____Slavic___E. Europe is ____Slavic___

(Keep in mind Estonia, Hungary and Finland – (Keep in mind Estonia, Hungary and Finland – Uralic language family)Uralic language family)

European Languages cont.European Languages cont.

Romance languages dominate in 5 States Romance languages dominate in 5 States (Countries)(Countries)

E. boundary of Germ. = Germanic E. boundary of Germ. = Germanic Balto- Balto-Slavic tonguesSlavic tongues

Believed Uralic lang. spread 7000-10,000 Believed Uralic lang. spread 7000-10,000 years agoyears ago

Basque language = mystery in history = Basque language = mystery in history = “isolated lang.”“isolated lang.”

Languages of IndiaLanguages of Indiahttp://www.mapsofindia.com/culture/indian-

languages.html

4 lang. families4 lang. families Indo-Euro. most speakersIndo-Euro. most speakers Dravidian 2Dravidian 2ndnd Less known Austroasiatic and Indo-PacificLess known Austroasiatic and Indo-Pacific

15 major lang.; all but four are Indo-15 major lang.; all but four are Indo-European (Bengali and Hindi most common)European (Bengali and Hindi most common)

Dravidian languages clustered in SE Dravidian languages clustered in SE (Tamil/Telugu)(Tamil/Telugu)

Pol. divisions reflect regional languagesPol. divisions reflect regional languagesHindi is the main Indo-Euro lang. (Indo-Hindi is the main Indo-Euro lang. (Indo-

Iranian branch) w/ 300+ million speakers Iranian branch) w/ 300+ million speakers

Languages of Africa Languages of Africa

1.1. Most preliterateMost preliterate

2.2. Grouped into 4 famliesGrouped into 4 famliesNorth Africa = North Africa = Central Africa =Central Africa =Kalahari-Namib =Kalahari-Namib =South Africa =South Africa =

3.3. Largest fam.= Niger-Largest fam.= Niger-Congo Congo

4.4. Oldest are the Khoisan Oldest are the Khoisan languages (clicks)languages (clicks)

Mandarin: One lang. or many? Mandarin: One lang. or many? (Sino-Tibetan family)(Sino-Tibetan family)

1. World's oldest written lang.1. World's oldest written lang.2. Spoken by the greatest contiguous pop. 2. Spoken by the greatest contiguous pop.

cluster on Earthcluster on Earth3.3. Divided by dialects that are mutually Divided by dialects that are mutually

unintelligibleunintelligible Mandarin dominates with about 900 million speakers Mandarin dominates with about 900 million speakers Written lang. ALWAYS same Written lang. ALWAYS same unifying force unifying force Several efforts have been made to create a truly Several efforts have been made to create a truly

national language… today’s pinyinnational language… today’s pinyin

Pinyin, or Hanyu Pinyin, is the official phonetic system for transcribing the Mandarin pronunciations of Chinese characters into the Latin alphabet in the People's Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), and Singapore.

South AmericaSouth America

Impact of Impact of ColonialismColonialism

Treaty of Tordesillas Treaty of Tordesillas divided New World divided New World into 2 spheres:into 2 spheres: Western “half” = SpainWestern “half” = Spain Eastern “half” = Eastern “half” =

PortugalPortugal

Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European Language Hearth and Language Hearth and

DiffusionDiffusion

Proto-Indo-European (PIE) Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language?language?

Indo-European language = world's most Indo-European language = world's most commoncommon

Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European

(common ancestor of Indo-European) (common ancestor of Indo-European)

Use reverse lang. divergence to guess all I-E Use reverse lang. divergence to guess all I-E languages came from ONE lang. languages came from ONE lang. Similar wordsSimilar words

Hypothesize about origin? Hypothesize about origin?

Diffusion of Proto-Indo-European Diffusion of Proto-Indo-European language?language?

A.A. Conquest theoryConquest theory1.1. Originated N of Black Sea Originated N of Black Sea

(steppes of Ukraine/Russia)(steppes of Ukraine/Russia)

2. 2. Lang. diffused west thru conquest!Lang. diffused west thru conquest! Superior tech. (wheel)Superior tech. (wheel) Domesticated horsesDomesticated horses

Historical Spread of the Chariot(Years are BC)

B. Agriculture Theory

1.1. Diffusion by SHARING agriculture Diffusion by SHARING agriculture techniques = spread of farmingtechniques = spread of farming

2.2. Origin: Anatolia in Turkey (hilly words)Origin: Anatolia in Turkey (hilly words)

3.3. Supporting evidence: Supporting evidence: Few words for plains but many for relief landformsFew words for plains but many for relief landforms Few words for trees/animals that live on the plainsFew words for trees/animals that live on the plains Leading hearth of ag. innovation nearby Leading hearth of ag. innovation nearby

(Mesopotamia)(Mesopotamia) Some genetic evidenceSome genetic evidence

III. Globalization vs. Local III. Globalization vs. Local DiversityDiversity

Globalization of lang.Globalization of lang. Lingua franca?Lingua franca? Any common language spoken by peoples w/ diff. Any common language spoken by peoples w/ diff.

native tongues. (business purposes)native tongues. (business purposes) Exs: Swahili, Indonesian, Russian, Hausa, ArabicExs: Swahili, Indonesian, Russian, Hausa, Arabic English (most important)English (most important)

Technology, Navigation, Education, Pop Culture, Technology, Navigation, Education, Pop Culture, Tourism, FinanceTourism, Finance

Negative correlation b/t lingua franca & min. lang.Negative correlation b/t lingua franca & min. lang.

SwahiliSwahili

Swahili has become the lingua franca of Swahili has become the lingua franca of East Africa East Africa Lingua Franca - Lingua Franca - a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different.http://www.glcom.com/hassan/lessons/useful_swahili_words.htmlhttp://www.glcom.com/hassan/lessons/useful_swahili_words.html Developed from African Bantu languages, Arabic, Developed from African Bantu languages, Arabic,

and Persianand Persian

Has a complex vocabulary and structureHas a complex vocabulary and structure

Hausa

In West Africa Hausa is a regional lingua franca

Language Replacement Language Replacement

Stronger culture forces lang. on less Stronger culture forces lang. on less advanced peopleadvanced people

Colonialism’s linguistic legacy:Colonialism’s linguistic legacy: Acculturation or assimilation?Acculturation or assimilation? Latin America – Treaty of TordesillasLatin America – Treaty of Tordesillas AfricaAfrica USSRUSSR UK todayUK today

Globalization of L. F. + Lang. Rep. may = Globalization of L. F. + Lang. Rep. may = language extinction language extinction (Sanskrit, Cornish, Native American lang., etc.)(Sanskrit, Cornish, Native American lang., etc.)

PidginPidgin

Mixture of 2 or more langs; allows comm. Mixture of 2 or more langs; allows comm. b/t speakers of different tongues. b/t speakers of different tongues. Simple grammar Simple grammar easier to learn easier to learn Few synonymsFew synonyms Learned as second languages. Learned as second languages.

aka “Contact Language” aka “Contact Language” Ex: Spanglish, Chinglish, Franglais, African Ex: Spanglish, Chinglish, Franglais, African

pidginspidgins

Creole and Creolization Creole and Creolization

1. Pidgins 1. Pidgins mother tongue mother tonguea)a) Process = “Creolization” Process = “Creolization”b) 2 languages blend together = one b) 2 languages blend together = one native languagenative languageEx. Swahili, Afrikaans, French CreoleEx. Swahili, Afrikaans, French Creole

2. Stable over time, complex grammar & 2. Stable over time, complex grammar & vocabvocab

3.3. Difficult to distinguish b/t Difficult to distinguish b/t dialect/pidgin/creoledialect/pidgin/creole

4.4. Rubenstein = “lang. resulting from mixing Rubenstein = “lang. resulting from mixing of colonizer’s lang w/ indigenous lang.”of colonizer’s lang w/ indigenous lang.”

Preservation of Local DiversityPreservation of Local Diversity

Minority lang. revival because…Minority lang. revival because… Maintenance of a unique cultureMaintenance of a unique culture

Amer. Indians Amer. Indians Quebecois in CanadaQuebecois in Canada Spanish-speakers in the U.S.Spanish-speakers in the U.S.

Force for devolution (transfer of power away from Force for devolution (transfer of power away from central gov’t.)central gov’t.) Basques in Spain Basques in Spain Maori in New Zealand (local autonomy)Maori in New Zealand (local autonomy)

Gov’t attempting to promote unity = “centripetal Gov’t attempting to promote unity = “centripetal force”force” 22 official lang. in India22 official lang. in India 11 official lang. of South Africa11 official lang. of South Africa 2 official lang. in Belgium2 official lang. in Belgium 2 official lang. in Canada2 official lang. in Canada

Preservation cont.Preservation cont.

Promote nationalism with a group of people Promote nationalism with a group of people = “centripetal force”= “centripetal force” Hebrew in IsraelHebrew in Israel Gaelic in Ireland/ScotlandGaelic in Ireland/Scotland Quebec banning non-French signs & adsQuebec banning non-French signs & ads

Use of technologyUse of technology Maintaining and reinforce langMaintaining and reinforce lang Welsh TV programs/radio stationsWelsh TV programs/radio stations Spanish speakers w/ Spanish TV stationsSpanish speakers w/ Spanish TV stations

To attract touristsTo attract tourists Unique experiences!Unique experiences! Signs & topynyms changed to reflect native Signs & topynyms changed to reflect native

cultureculture

Multilingualism

VERY few monolingual states Ex: Japan, Portugal, Poland, Venezuela, Lesotho

Most even have some people w/ minority lang. Japan: 500,000+ Koreans Venezuela indigenous langs

Linguistic fragmentation = cultural Linguistic fragmentation = cultural pluralism?pluralism?

Multilingual states = centrifugal force?Multilingual states = centrifugal force?

Multilingualism Case StudiesMultilingualism Case Studies

A. NigeriaA. Nigeria Unimaginable linguistic diversity – legacy of Unimaginable linguistic diversity – legacy of

colonialism (some source suggest 500+ languagescolonialism (some source suggest 500+ languages 4 major regional lang. (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and 4 major regional lang. (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and

Fulani)Fulani) ~12 major local languages spoken by 1 to 5 million ~12 major local languages spoken by 1 to 5 million

peoplepeople Adopted English as its "official language”Adopted English as its "official language”

Has precluded major cultural conflict based on languageHas precluded major cultural conflict based on language Caused problems for children first entering school Caused problems for children first entering school

knowing only traditional languagesknowing only traditional languages Only spoken by small, urban minorityOnly spoken by small, urban minority

Multilingualism Case StudiesMultilingualism Case Studies

B. CanadaB. CanadaLarge French-speaking territory w/ Large French-speaking territory w/

even larger English-speaking areaeven larger English-speaking areaFrench law and language sustained in French law and language sustained in

QuebecQuebecFrench language was protected in French language was protected in

parliament and in the courtsparliament and in the courtsLanguage divides the countryLanguage divides the country 60 Minutes – War of Words - Quebec Language 60 Minutes – War of Words - Quebec Language

Wars http://www.youtube.com/watch?Wars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKOGgYaqwhg (7:44)v=qKOGgYaqwhg (7:44)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iki-pwrCpE8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iki-pwrCpE8 (5:24)(5:24)

Will Quebec succeed and secede?

Multilingualism Case StudiesMultilingualism Case Studies

C. BelgiumC. Belgium Dutch-speaking region in the north & French-Dutch-speaking region in the north & French-

speaking region in the southspeaking region in the south Another Velvet divorce?Another Velvet divorce? Brussels (capital) officially bilingual, French-Brussels (capital) officially bilingual, French-

speaking majorityspeaking majority Language regions separate Romance and Germanic Language regions separate Romance and Germanic

branches of Indo-European branches of Indo-European

Multilingualism Case Studies

BelgiumConflict has been

largely nonviolentLanguages/ethnic

issues dominate politics

Multilingualism Case StudiesMultilingualism Case Studies

E. The failure of Cyprus to unifyE. The failure of Cyprus to unify

Multilingualism Case StudiesMultilingualism Case Studies

F. SwitzerlandF. Switzerland

German speaking (63.7%), French German speaking (63.7%), French speaking (20.4%), Italian speaking speaking (20.4%), Italian speaking (6.5%), Romansch (0.5%) (6.5%), Romansch (0.5%)

1994 Czechoslovakia

Official languages

Serve different purposes Used to enhance communication & unity among

peoples who speak diverse traditional languages Former African colonies sometimes adopt European

languages Creating an official language has caused problems for

some countries Ex: When Hindi was given official status in India, riots

and disorder broke out in non-Hindi areas Some former colonies chose two or more official

languages

30 states have declared English their official language

The European Union

20 official languagesits annual translation cost is 1.3 billion They include:Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0222_050222_translation.html

Toponymy

The systematic study of place names Place names can reveal much about the contents of a

culture area

Place names will change/can cause controversy Post Cold War Soviet Union cities went back to pre-

Communism names South Africa with new gov’t, change old names or

not?? Post-Colonial African/Asian countries/cities Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

Francophone World

Literary Traditions + Technology

Printing press and rise of national states a)Invented in 1588, in Germanyb) Allowed for unprecedented

production of textsc) Luther Bible for German and King

James Bible for English Knowledge is no longer hierarchically diffused

Toponymy

Historian George Stewart classified place names into ten categories

a) Descriptive—Rocky Mountainsb) Associative—Mill Valley, Californiac) Incident—Battle Creek, Michigand) Possessive—Johnson City, Texase) Commendatory—Paradise Valley, Arizonaf) Commemorative—San Franciscog) Folk-etymology—Plains, Georgia, or Academia,

Pennsylvaniah) Manufactured—Truth or Consequences, New Mexicoi) Mistake—–names involving historic errors in identification

or translation

Nostratic

Russian scholars have long been in the forefront of research on ancient languages

Vladislav Illich-Svitych and Aharon Dolgopolsky

(1)Studied independently of each other(2)Came to similar conclusions

pre-Proto-Indo-European language named Nostratic

Nostratic

No names for domestic plants or animals so the people were hunters and gatherers, not farmers

May date back 14,000 years Believed to be the ancestral language for

many other languagesNostratic links widely separated languages

What was vulgar Latin?

Vulgar Latin in Roman Empire (roads)Collapse by Germanic tribes led to Vulgar

Latin’s evolution to 5 Romance lang.

What if two dialects reach a point of mutual unintelligibility?

The Greenberg hypothesis

Proposed the migration to the Western Hem must have occurred much earlier than 12-13,000 years ago

Why? There are 200 lang. families there and only 40

in the Old World

The Greenberg hypothesis

Supporting evidence: a) Archaeological dating in Pennsylvania

(16,000 B.P.), and Chile (tentatively 33,000 B.P.)b) May lend credibility to Greenberg's

hypothesis, if proved beyond a doubtc) May mean the first wave came across the

Bering Strait more than 40,000 years agod) Dental data gathered by Christy Turner

conclude that three waves of immigration took place over a longer period that 12,000 years

LANGUAGE REPLACEMENT

15-18th centuries Latin America Treaty of Tordesilla’s Line of

Demarcation 1490’sCreolization occurred in many places

18-20th centuries Africa and AsiaAfrica and Berlin Conference 19th

Century Page 425Primarily France and Britain (BRP)

20th century USSR and ELLBUMGAATUTKK

Today: 3rd generation rule

Origins of Pop and FolkOrigins of Pop and Folk

Pop originates (usually) in MDCs Where do most movies people watch worldwide come

from? Bollywood vs. Hollywood vs. Nollywood Slumdog Millionaire

Folk originates often anonymously or in one or multiple hearths (we often know very little about the origin of folk cultural traits) Who was the first hula dancer in Hawaii? Who cares?

The Esperanto experimentThe Esperanto experiment

1.1. An effort to create a world language An effort to create a world language during the early twentieth centuryduring the early twentieth century

2.2. Europeans were becoming more Europeans were becoming more multilingual multilingual

3.3. Few wanted to learn another language Few wanted to learn another language that did not have practical utility that did not have practical utility

http://www.esperanto.ca/kurso/alphabet.htmhttp://www.esperanto.ca/kurso/alphabet.htm