Language Anthropology in Different Societies - Essay Example

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