Download World View: A Case Study

World View: A Case Study
Cognitive Linguistics 109
Kristen Lacefield
Overview of Theoretical Concepts
• Language is the play of verbal symbols
that are based on imagery.
• Words are linked to conceptual shades
that inhabit the world of our imagination.
What Is Imagery?
• Basic sense perception, cognitive
models, symbols, image-schemas,
prototypes, basic categories, complex
categories, metaphor, metonymy, social
scenarios, figures and grounds, profiles
and bases, perspectives/
orientations/points of view.
• Language grows out of imagery to
represent the environment in a certain
way.
Cultural Linguistics
• Cultural Linguistics =Linguistic
Anthropology + Cognitive Linguistics
• Linguistic Anthropology: Boasian
Linguistics, Ethnosemantics,
Ethnography of Speaking (ES)
• Boasian: looks at the ways underlying
classifications of experience are delineated by
language; also looks at the psychological basis of
language
• Ethnosemantics: study of the ways in which
different cultures organize and categorize
domains of knowledge
• ES: speakers intentionally apply linguistic
resources for social and cultural ends; the
linguistic competence of speakers involves the
ability to use language pragmatically in specific
social and cultural contexts
• How is Cultural Linguistics
Differentiated From Strictly Cognitive
Linguistics?
• Cultural Linguistics Places More
Emphasis on Culture, Discourse,
Narrative, and World View.
World View
• World View is the Cognitive Orientation
and Perspective of a Society, Subgroup,
or Individual
• Language Often Refers to Cultural
Images and Is Relative to Images
Drawn From World View
http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&KEY=&
SPID=2027&SPSID=25937
A Case Study in World View:
The Duke Lacrosse Scandal
• Primary Questions:
• What world views can be identified in the
Duke scandal discourse? How is certain
language employed to evoke specific images
and particular world views?
• What are the various motivations for the
employment of specific language?
Separate Perspectives
Defense’s Side
• “stripper” (this
employs a world view
of sexual work as
indicative of low
character
• “discrediting criminal
history” (world view in
which any serious
criminal record
indicates the accuser
is lying)
Prosecution’s Side
• “exotic dancer” (the
use of this term
attempts to counteract
the defense’s world
view)
• “irrelevant criminal
history” (world view in
which only certain
past crimes really
‘count’)
Defense
* “overzealous
prosecutor” “political”
“media-hound”
“rush to judgment”
(world view of unfair
and overzealous
prosecution)
• “drug addict” “slut”
“ho” “emotionally
disturbed” “criminal”
(employs negative
perspectives about
the accuser)
• Prosecution
• “dog-and-pony show
defense”
“Clintonesque
defense” “highpowered defense
lawyers” (world view
of defense lawyers as
sleazy liars)
• single mother of two”
“Navy veteran”
(employs positive
perspectives about
the victim)
• Defense
• “protection of the
accused” “innocent
until proven guilty”
“alleged incident”
“mere speculation”
• “boys” “abandoned by
Duke” “normal
college-age behavior”
(world view of
innocent boys who
engaged in normal
behavior)
• “trashy” “low-class”
accuser (world view of
poverty as being
inherently immoral)
• Prosecution
• “victim’s rights”
• “men” “males” “jocks”
“blue code of silence”
“stonewalling” “exotic
sex party” (employs
world view of grown
men being
responsible for
reprehensible
behavior)
• “privileged” “rich”
defendents (world
view of wealth as
being immoral)
• Media-Imposed Metonymy (a group of unruly
athletes stand for Duke, an exotic dancer with
a criminal history stands for Durham)
• Media commentary: “terrible town-gown
relations” “community crisis” “racial powderkeg”
• Duke response: “vibrant community”
“symbiotic relationship” “diverse community
and diverse school” “stellar academic
reputation” “Ivy-League caliber”
General Conclusions
• Those on the side of the prosecution
employ language that draws from
several world views to create sympathy
for the accuser and an unfavorable
feeling for the accused.
• Those on the side of the defense draw
from different world views to create
sympathy for the accused and distaste
for the accuser.
The media employs specific language and
draws upon certain imagery to create
interest in the story. The emphasis is on
the idea of class and racial division within
the community and the threat of an
explosion of tension in Durham.
Duke responds by drawing upon a different
world view and employing different imagery
in its response. It’s focus is on social
cohesiveness and its contribution to the
community. It also employs a world view in
which academic excellence equals moral
and ethical worth.
• In Closing, A Final Profound Thought
From The Reverend Jesse Jackson
(explaining his decision to pay the
accuser’s tuition):
“Conservatives like to say, ‘Don’t
abort…adopt.’ I say, ‘Don’t
strip…scholarship.”
Sources
• Palmer, Gary. Toward A Theory of
Cultural Linguistics. Austin: UT Press,
1996.
• Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, Duke
Chronicle, Durham Herald-Sun,
Newsweek Magazine, Website of Duke
University