Linguistic Anthropology

1- Discussion Posts: (200 -250 words)

· Describe the value of Linguistic Anthropology for understanding culture & Explain the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and give examples of how it

2- Discussion Reply to a Classmate (150-200 words)

Classmate’s Post below:

Language is something I think we as humans take for granted. No matter where you go or what time frame you go back to, there is some type of communication that is unique to each and every culture. Language according to our readings, is crucial for interpretation, expression, and transmission of culture. With language we are able to create and keep memories and traditions that can last so many lifetimes, even expanding into something new. There are relationships between culture and language and that is what linguistic anthropologists are here to study and try to understand it. Language is composed of many different elements including, phonology and phoneme. Phonology are the rules for forming vocal symbols. Phoneme is the category of speech sounds that keep words apart (like t, d, s). We all have learned what grammar is, and how to do it properly. They are basically the rules for making sentences. Morphemes are grammatical elements that form small units of meaning in any language. The difference between morphemes and phoneme is that morphemes are the smallest unit of meaning in a language, while phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language.

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is a hypothesis that was first created by Edward Sapir, in 1929. His theory is that language ultimately determines perception and experience of something. An example of this theory is the way we talk about men and women. We use in our culture a very sexist vocabulary that puts men at the end of everything (fireman, policeman). It even goes as far to use the term male nurse, we don’t call women nurses, woman nurse!