SPCOM100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Social Philosophy, Linguistics, Personal Pronoun
10 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Nature of language: language is symbolic: words are arbitrary symbols that have no meaning in themselves, this form of communication is not literal. Language is governed by rules: symbol-laden rules work b/c people agree how to use them. Phonological rules governs how sounds are combined to form words: example: words like champagne, double and occasion are spelled the same in french but pronounced differently. Meaning is both in and among people: language is linked to worldview: people who speak different languages organize and view their worlds differently. Example: aboriginals don"t have spatial terms like left, right, back, forward in their language. They use compass directions like east, west, south, north. Linguistic relativism - language exerts a strong influence on perceptions: example: people who switch from english to french tend to speak differently. Names are more than just a simple means of identification it shapes the way others think of us, the way we view ourselves and the way we act.
