ANTH V02- Cultural Anthropology

Lecture: CULTURE & COMMUNICATION: LANGUAGE AND THE ARTS

Communication: transmitting information; influencing the behavior of another organism.

Acquiring language: Biologically adapted for language.

Language & Culture

ØPart of culture & cultural knowledge

lWe are socialized through language

ØReflects social relationships

lUsed to include and exclude

ØShapes perception of reality

Human Language is Unique…

ØThe abstract!

ØDisplacement!

ØConceptualizing the past & future

Language Reflects Culture

ØLexicon

ØSemantic Domain

Are we speaking the same language??? Snogging, aubergine, courgette, WC, queue, mind your head

Characteristics of a Language: System of sounds combined to form words, phrases, & sentences.

lPhonology

lMorphology

lSemantics

lSyntax

Socio-linguistics

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: does language mirror reality? OR does language shape reality?

Social factors affecting changes in languages

lStyle shifts

lDiglossia

lContext & Situation: generational, gender, social class

lCulture Change

Code-Switching

ØBi-lingual

ØSelective alternating between languages

Dialects

ØForms of a language that deviate from the dominant group

Nonverbal communication: Two-thirds of communication comes from nonverbal cues.

Body Movement

Facial Expressions

Gestures

Cultural Space

Artifacts

Body adornment

Art

ØForms of creative expression

lUsing imagination, skill, style

ØAesthetic principles

lTaste

lNo universality

lInvolves Tradition

Purpose of Art

ØIdentification

lBody art: tattoo

ØEducate

lPerformance Art : Wayang

ØUnite/Separate

lVisual art: Australian rock art

ØCultural Context (Art & Culture)

lCultural Identity

lSupernatural

lGender identity