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Chapter 6, Language
Chapter Outline
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The Nature of Language
Language Acquisition Among Children
The Structure of Language
Language and Culture
U.S. Example of Cultural Emphasis
Linguistic Style
Sociolinguistics
Nonverbal Communication
The Nature of Language
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Language is found in all cultures of the world.
A symbolic system of sounds that, when put
together according to a set of rules, conveys
meaning.
The meanings attached to any given word in all
languages are totally arbitrary.
Diversity of Language
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Linguists estimate that there are as many as 6,000
discrete languages.
95% of the world’s people speak fewer than 100 of the
approximately 6,000 different languages.
Mandarin accounts for about 1 in every 5 people on
earth.
English, Hindi, Spanish, and Russian, accounts for
about 45%.
Major Languages of the World
Language
Primary Country
Number of Speakers
Mandarin
China
874,000,000
Hindi
India
366,000,000
English
UK/USA
341,000,000
Spanish
Spain/South America
322,000,000
Bengali
Bangladesh
207,000,000
Portuguese
Portugal/Brazil
176,000,000
Major Languages of the World
Language
Primary Country
Number of Speakers
Russian
Russia
167,000,000
Japanese
Japan
125,000,000
German
Germany
100,000,000
Korean
Korea
78,000,000
French
France
77,000,000
Wu
China
77,000,000
Characteristics of Human
Communication Systems
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Capable of sending an infinite number of
messages.
The only animals that can speak of events from
the past or that might happen in the future.
Language is transmitted largely through
tradition rather than experience alone.
Structure of Human Languages
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Phonological structure comprises rules of how
sounds are combined to convey meanings.
Each language has its own grammatical
structure with principles governing:
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How morphemes are formed into words
(morphology).
How words are arranged into phrases and
sentences (syntax).
Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis
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Language influences perception.
Language, establishes mental categories that
affect the ways people conceptualize the real
world.
Colloquialisms From Baseball
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She threw me a curve.
You’re way off base.
You’re batting 1,000 (500, zero) so far.
I want to touch all the bases.
He went to bat for me.
He has two strikes against him.
That’s way out in left field.
He drives me up the wall.
Examples of Diglossia
High Form
Low Form
Religious service
Marketplace
Political speeches
Instructions to subordinates
Legislative proceedings
Friendly conversations
University lectures
Folk literature
News broadcasts
Radio/TV programs
Newspapers
Cartoons
Poetry
Graffiti
Nonverbal Communication
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Most messages are sent and received without
words:
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Facial expressions
Gestures
Eye contact
Touching
Posture