StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Language Anthropology in Different Societies - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper “Language Anthropology in Different Societies” seeks to identify the different elements that influence linguistic anthropology and help develop languages across different societies. The development of languages follows cultural experiences of the people owning the language…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.8% of users find it useful
Language Anthropology in Different Societies
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Language Anthropology in Different Societies"

Language Anthropology in Different Societies Anthropology Anthropology could be identified as the academic study of humanity, which aims at characterising different aspects of human experience. The study of anthropology concerns defining the origins of human life and the organisation of human social relationships. This aspect of study completely analyses the different elements of human life including language, culture, among others (Delaney, 2004). Linguistic anthropology explores the different elements involved in language acquisition. This paper seeks to identify the different elements that influence linguistic anthropology and help develop languages across different societies. The development of languages follows cultural experiences of the people owning the language. Some languages remain limited to the societies speaking the language, and their spread remains constrained to limited space location. In localised languages, the grammatical use of languages remains constricted within varied environments; hence limitation in development of these languages. Linguistic anthropology focuses on different paradigms that enable continuity of languages avoiding extinction of languages, like the cases of various North American languages (Eriksen, 1995). The development of languages in different societies remains unique and follows different societal elements that assist in composition of languages. Grammatical descriptions of languages help researchers in analysing the different elements of language development across numerous societies. Socio-cultural identity of language defines how language develops in children as they grow. Children in different societies acquire language skills through the environmental factors affecting social development. Language acquisition skills in children follow the various the various societal elements including the behaviours of the people owning the language (Fedorak, 2008). Within societies, children acquire the languages spoken within their immediate environments. The development of lingual capabilities in children, therefore, remains heavily reliant on the surrounding society and environment. Socialisation remains a fundamental element of language acquisition in children adopting their first language. Individuals living in different societies socialise children to language through naturally occurring stories, often told to children through other individuals within the society. Language acquisition in different societies occurs accompanied by the enculturation, with both processes occurring concurrently. These processes occur together during the acquisition process of both language and culture. Generally, societies undertake language acquisition processes differently based on cultural values within the societies and those of the people owning the language. Numerous researches have concluded that baby-talk remains distinct and specific to different societies and culture. The social spaces within which individuals live, contribute significantly to acquisition and development of lingual capabilities. These social spaces define the different elements contained within societies that significantly contribute towards development of language. Societies define the characteristics displayed by individuals with the characteristics defining language acquisition. With most languages being indexed, the development of these languages could be characterised by learning within the societal environment. Socio-cultural linguistics could be defined as the term that describes the study of languages in their socio-cultural contexts. This study remains fundamental in understanding the existing relationships between language acquisition and the influence of society and culture on the same. Societal norms and cultural practices significantly affect languages and the acquisition of languages. Across the world, every society contains numerous elements that define the process of language acquisition. These aspects enable individuals, not born within that society to become adopted into different cultures, with the cultural values assisting in development of lingual skills. The fundamental aim of language remains communication between individuals, hence the communication methods commonly utilised by societies significantly influence the use of language within the society. This brings the existing discrepancies of societies in matters relating to language acquisition. The method that enables people to develop language skills could, therefore, be described as being immensely increased by the societal believes and norms. The societies play significant roles in providing meaning to words and statements that make languages. The compositions of languages could therefore, be described as being derived from the social activities occurring within societies. These activities shape the communication methods and the language utilisation in different societies. Communication through language could be described as involving two elements; speaking and listening. These roles are performed by different individuals and must remain present for effective communication between various individuals. While the language remains fundamental element of communication, normally, individuals include other methods of enhancing communication in speech acts. These accompaniments of the spoken word potentially assist the listeners in understanding the intended meaning of the spoken words (Barnard & Spencer, 1996). Within different societies, similar words have different meanings based on the actions accompanying the oral language. These actions might completely deliver a different meaning to same statement and assist listeners in deriving meanings. Communications also involve observable elements like facial expressions and tonal changes that assist the listener in identifying the mood of speakers. While development of languages remains related in several ways, differences exist in presentation of language figures and the development of language within different societies. While the development of languages might be similar, several elements of language like pronunciation always differ from location to location. The society appears to influence how individuals pronounce words based on the regional pronunciation, leading to development of accents. English, for example, remains one of the widely spoken dialects in various regions of the universe, with regions having their accent. While accent might be influenced by other languages, the society also affects pronunciation significantly. English speakers from Africa, Asia and South America might develop accents, influenced by the native languages spoken. Speakers from the United Kingdom and the United States of America, however have accents, influenced by societies. While both groups could be termed as native English speakers, their accents differ significantly, and one could be identified from the spoken language. Another element affecting the development of language in individuals could be identified as the teachers of the language. Teachers in this context refer to the various individuals from whom people acquire language skills. The individuals from whom languages become acquired significantly influence the language the individual acquires in terms of understanding and development of accents. While individuals might be taught numerous languages in classroom settings, learnt languages from interactions commonly develop better than those taught in classrooms. Teaching could potentially equip an individual with the knowledge of a language, while interactive learning immensely assists individuals in acquiring the essential skills for understanding a language. Understanding comprises of the capability to decipher meanings of words based on the circumstances surrounding spoken words. The learning element of language acquisition constitutes first gaining profound cultural understanding of the societies owning the language. The cultural understanding leads to the understanding of different aspects involved in language acquisition, and accepting the societal influence on language development (MacClancy, 2002). The societal influences on language development remain evident in the unavailability for names of objects not existing within given societies. Societies only give names to items existing within their environment; therefore, individuals might find limitation in their language knowledge depending on the societies where they acquired the language skills. Commonly utilised words in societies also similarly appear repeatedly in speeches delivered by individuals who acquired the language from these societies. The development of language could therefore be used as an identification method, linking individuals to societies, based on their language skills. The language skills possessed by individuals remain limited to the associated societies where the language becomes acquired. One language could be utilised differently in different societies and settings. In non-English speaking countries for example, English speakers might be individuals working with foreign companies operating in those countries. The English knowledge of these individuals might only be proficient within the official setting, while the same individuals might be incapable of holding a casual discussion in the same language. This might be caused by limited literature in the casual setting, as their entire language skills remain those of official communication. The same scenario could be observed in individuals acting as speech translators. One needs to understand two languages to facilitate translation from one language to the other. Individual translating English to Chinese might not efficiently translate Chinese to English. This becomes so because, the formation of thoughts occurs in a different language with speech being delivered in another language, an element that constantly causes language mistakes instigated by knowledge of different language. Language anthropology could significantly enable linguists to understand the different elements of language development. This anthropology includes numerous paradigms involved in language acquisition for different languages. While various aspects contribute significantly towards the development of language skills, the role played by the society leads among the elements influencing language (Hendry, 1999). The society significantly affects the functioning of human development and cultural practices affect communication methods used in different societies. The societies provide individuals with enabling environments for acquisition of language and development of other related elements. The societal believes and cultural practices contribute significantly towards development of languages and acquisition. References Barnard, A. & Spencer, J., 1996. Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: Routledge. Delaney, C., 2004. Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology. Oxford: Blackwell. Fedorak, S., 2008. Anthropology Matters!. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Hendry, J., 1999. An Introduction to Social Anthropology. Basingstoke: Palgrave. MacClancy, J., 2002. Exotic No More: Anthropology on the Front Lines. London: University of Chicago Press. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Language Anthropology in Different Societies Essay”, n.d.)
Language Anthropology in Different Societies Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1598121-critically-discuss-the-following-statement-with-reference-to-the-anthropology-of-language-and-classification-the-worlds-in-which-different-societies-live-are-distinct-worlds-not-merely-the-same-world-with-different-labels-attached-sapir-quoted-i
(Language Anthropology in Different Societies Essay)
Language Anthropology in Different Societies Essay. https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1598121-critically-discuss-the-following-statement-with-reference-to-the-anthropology-of-language-and-classification-the-worlds-in-which-different-societies-live-are-distinct-worlds-not-merely-the-same-world-with-different-labels-attached-sapir-quoted-i.
“Language Anthropology in Different Societies Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1598121-critically-discuss-the-following-statement-with-reference-to-the-anthropology-of-language-and-classification-the-worlds-in-which-different-societies-live-are-distinct-worlds-not-merely-the-same-world-with-different-labels-attached-sapir-quoted-i.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Language Anthropology in Different Societies

Language is the Most Important Component of Communication

For example there are communities that live in different geographic locations but have similar or related languages.... In studying the similarities, differences and development of languages of different communities, we are able to understand the societies better.... The study of language, known as linguistics, has tried to show how language develops among different communities.... Currently, there are about three thousands to six thousands different languages in the world....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

First Farmers: the Origins of Agricultural Societies by Peter Bellwood

A serious work was implemented by the author to present the comparative analysis of farming development in different parts of the world.... Bellwood compared the development of farming in different countries and this makes his research outstanding as only separate regions were analyzed before.... This essay discusses the book First Farmers: the Origins of Agricultural societies by Peter Bellwood.... It explains how the agricultural societies were formed and spread....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Cultural References in Translation

Obviously, this problem is minimum in translations between two similar languages, such as Slovenian and Russian are, or between two societies which have several believes in common, but the problem still remains, because it is impossible to transpose both the meaning and its form, even if we consider the French and British societies, quite different for many aspects, such as independent linguistic origins, but extremely similar for history and development.... hellip; The conceit of Group is a two-face one, as its existence depends on two different kinds of relationships: the first one is based on identity, as a group is made up of 'similar' people sharing the same believes and having, between certain limits, the same features; the second kind of relationship is diametrically opposite to the first one and consists in the conceit of diversity. What makes people a group are not only the affinities of its members, but rather the diversity its members have towards what stands outside of it: the action of culture is similar to the two faces of a wall, which both encloses and, on the other side, protects from what is unknown and obscure, from what is foreign....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology

Since no human society exists in to compete for isolation, different societies also exchange and share culture.... different societies can exchange ideas, people, manufactured goods, and natural resources.... Today's global-scale culture differs vastly from that of the small-scale societies (no industrialized societies, with small populations) in which our ancestors lived for hundreds of thousands of years.... Understanding these kinds of societies and their cultures can help us make more sense of how people cope with life in today's culturally diverse and complex world....
6 Pages (1500 words) Term Paper

Environmental Anthropology with Reference to Cultural Ecology

Anthropological study of the environment enables people to discern and understand the history of politics in different societies, to help in the setup and establishment of an appropriate political system to rule particular communities.... Anthropological study of the environmental issues assists and enlightens human beings from different societies concerning various business and trading activities and principles that overrule the current world.... Anthropology provides an overview of problem-solving techniques used by the sociologists in enhancing peace in the societies....
6 Pages (1500 words) Annotated Bibliography

The Subject of Anthropology

hellip; Anthropology is a broad subject that focuses on modern and ancient societies which are either complex or simple to understand the human nature (Kearney, 2004).... Anthropology has four different fields' namely cultural, biological, archaeology and linguistic anthropology AnthropologyAnthropology is a broad subject that focuses on modern and ancient societies which are either complex or simple to understand the human nature (Kearney, 2004).... nthropologist uses observations, interviews, survey and archival research to conduct the study the aspects of the societies....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

The Concept and Meaning of Anthropology

So anthropology can be seen as a comparative discourse of the human race and societies that tries to discern the similarities within the various existing groups, rather than focusing on their differences.... ight at the beginning, as we start reading the book, we are aware of the presence of two different personalities, Alma Gottlieb, “a novice anthropologist” (Gottlieb and Graham, xvii) Phillip Graham, a writer of fiction stories.... The paper 'The Concept and Meaning of anthropology' presents the book Parallel Worlds: An Anthropologist and a Writer Encounter Africa, which is written by Alma Gottlieb who is an anthropologist, and her husband Philip Graham, a writer of fictional stories....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Enculturation and Cognition of Children

As they enter the world, the children slowly are expected to live and cope with the different cultural contexts they find themselves in and to do this they require to adopt certain and specific cultural aspects.... hellip; Enculturation is a term that was coined and has widely been used in the field of anthropology, specifically in the study of cultural anthropology.... Cultural anthropology is a sub-field of anthropology that studies society's culture and how culture is transmitted from one generation to another....
9 Pages (2250 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us