Chapter 1: Linguistic Anthropology
● Linguistic Anthropology: The study of language from an anthropological
perspective
● The contexts and situations in which language is used, how it began, how it is
written/read, how it changes, etc.
Anthropology
● Anthropology: The study of all people, at all times, and in all places.
● Understanding the differences and similarities in human behaviour
● Anything human beings do can be studied
Anthropology is Holistic
● Holistic: characterized by seeing the whole picture; getting the broadest view
possible.
● Anthropology is holistic because of the four-field tradition or four general branches/
subfields
○ Physical Anthropology: the study of human origins, variation, and evolution.
Biological Anthropology
○ Archaeology: The study of prehistory and the analysis of ancient cultures
○ Cultural Anthropology: the study of cultural traditions and the analysis of
human behaviour and belief systems
○ Linguistic Anthropology: The study of language and language use in social
and cultural contexts
● For a complete understanding of human beings, it is necessary to understand
biological origins, prehistory, cultural traditions, and language use.
Anthropology is Comparative
● Comparative: Characterized by gathering and comparing information from many
cultures, times, and places, often in an effort to discover possible underlying
similarities and differences
● We get a full range of what it means to be human, the way we are or do things is not
the only way to be or do things
● Cultural relativity: Differences exist among cultural systems, that different cultural
systems make as much sense as your own, and that it is possible to learn to
understand different cultural systems
● Ethnocentrism: not understanding different systems on their own terms, using your
cultural system to interpret other cultural systems, and believing that your own
cultural system makes more sense than any other
● Frames of Reference: The ways that we see, interpret, and understand the world
around us
● Language and culture are related but not really the same thing. It is possible to speak
multiple languages without losing one’s sense of self or culture.
● Worldview: General term describing one’s overall outlook or view od things; also
refers to how one constitutes reality.
● Learning other languages and cultures can help you better understand your own
language and culture and understand how they work to influence you
Anthropology is Fieldwork-Based
● Linguistic Anthropology: The study of language from an anthropological
perspective
● The contexts and situations in which language is used, how it began, how it is
written/read, how it changes, etc.
Anthropology
● Anthropology: The study of all people, at all times, and in all places.
● Understanding the differences and similarities in human behaviour
● Anything human beings do can be studied
Anthropology is Holistic
● Holistic: characterized by seeing the whole picture; getting the broadest view
possible.
● Anthropology is holistic because of the four-field tradition or four general branches/
subfields
○ Physical Anthropology: the study of human origins, variation, and evolution.
Biological Anthropology
○ Archaeology: The study of prehistory and the analysis of ancient cultures
○ Cultural Anthropology: the study of cultural traditions and the analysis of
human behaviour and belief systems
○ Linguistic Anthropology: The study of language and language use in social
and cultural contexts
● For a complete understanding of human beings, it is necessary to understand
biological origins, prehistory, cultural traditions, and language use.
Anthropology is Comparative
● Comparative: Characterized by gathering and comparing information from many
cultures, times, and places, often in an effort to discover possible underlying
similarities and differences
● We get a full range of what it means to be human, the way we are or do things is not
the only way to be or do things
● Cultural relativity: Differences exist among cultural systems, that different cultural
systems make as much sense as your own, and that it is possible to learn to
understand different cultural systems
● Ethnocentrism: not understanding different systems on their own terms, using your
cultural system to interpret other cultural systems, and believing that your own
cultural system makes more sense than any other
● Frames of Reference: The ways that we see, interpret, and understand the world
around us
● Language and culture are related but not really the same thing. It is possible to speak
multiple languages without losing one’s sense of self or culture.
● Worldview: General term describing one’s overall outlook or view od things; also
refers to how one constitutes reality.
● Learning other languages and cultures can help you better understand your own
language and culture and understand how they work to influence you
Anthropology is Fieldwork-Based
