Chapter Goals

After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

1. Compare and contrast historical linguistics, descriptive linguistics, and sociolinguistics.
2. Explain how anthropologists use the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
3. Describe how sociolinguists study culture, language, and society.

---

Chapter Outline

Introduction

Historical Linguistics

Descriptive Linguistics

Sociolinguistics

Linguistic Diversity in a Globalized World

Theories of Language

Language and Scripture

---

Terms

code-switching

comparative method

creole

descriptive grammar

descriptive linguistics

diachronic

dialect

ethnosemantics (or ethnoscience)

grammar

historical linguistics

kinesics

language

language family

language hierarchy

langue

lexicon

linguistic morphology

linguistic nationalism

morpheme

official language

paralanguage

parole

phonemes

phonetics

phonology

pidgin

pragmatics

prescriptive grammar

protolanguage

regional dialect

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

semantics

social dialect

social register

sociolinguistics

structuralism

symbol

synchronic

syntax

---

Discussion Questions

1. Choose a common phrase, such as “That’s great!” or “I love you” or “Come here!” Say the same phrase three different ways to produce different meanings. Use kinesics and paralanguage to alter the meaning of the words.
2. If you were to develop a career in linguistics, would you rather work in historical linguistics, descriptive linguistics, or sociolinguistics? Offer an idea for a research project you could conduct in the field you choose.
3. What are the two or three most common words you use when referring to God? How might those words shape your view of God? In general, how does people’s language for God shape their relationship with God?
4. Tell a story about a time when you observed one language or dialect being valued over another. How were these social judgments communicated, and what impact did they have?

---