Geography of Geography of LanguageLanguage

The Geography of LanguageThe Geography of LanguageWhat is language?What is language? ““The use by human beings of voice The use by human beings of voice

sounds, and often of written symbols sounds, and often of written symbols that represent these sounds in that represent these sounds in organized combinations and patterns organized combinations and patterns to express and communicate to express and communicate thoughts and feelings” thoughts and feelings” (American Heritage (American Heritage

Dictionary)Dictionary).. Language: “an organized system of Language: “an organized system of

spoken words by which people spoken words by which people communicate with each other with communicate with each other with mutual comprehension” mutual comprehension”

The Geography of LanguageThe Geography of LanguageThe Importance of LanguageThe Importance of Language CommunicationCommunication

Language is a set of culturally agreed upon Language is a set of culturally agreed upon symbolssymbols

Variation in language such as ‘dialect’ Variation in language such as ‘dialect’ causes formation of different cultural causes formation of different cultural groups. Dialects can be used to define groups. Dialects can be used to define smaller cultural regionssmaller cultural regions

Economic and religious systems often follow Economic and religious systems often follow language patterns.language patterns.

Classification of LanguageClassification of LanguageThree Types of LanguageThree Types of Language

Dead Language: a language that does not Dead Language: a language that does not have native speakers (e.g., Latin, ancient have native speakers (e.g., Latin, ancient GreekGreek, Sumerian, Manx), Sumerian, Manx)

Moribund Language: A language that still Moribund Language: A language that still have native speakers but is no longer have native speakers but is no longer being acquired by children (e.g., many being acquired by children (e.g., many Amerindian languages)Amerindian languages)

Living Language (in use today)Living Language (in use today)

Classification of LanguageClassification of Language

How many How many languages are languages are there is the there is the world today?world today?

6,703…ish 6,703…ish (there are still (there are still languages that languages that haven’t been haven’t been discovered)discovered)

2009 Data

Classification of Language* (write underlined Classification of Language* (write underlined stuff)stuff)

Classifying LanguagesClassifying Languages The most commonly used system of demarcating The most commonly used system of demarcating

cultural regions on the basis of language is cultural regions on the basis of language is through language familiesthrough language families

Language familiesLanguage families: a group of related : a group of related languages derived from an earlier common languages derived from an earlier common languagelanguage

Branch: Languages derived from a common Branch: Languages derived from a common origin, but having split into individual origin, but having split into individual languageslanguages

GroupGroup: : Several languages sharing recent Several languages sharing recent common origin, similar grammar/vocabulary common origin, similar grammar/vocabulary (e.g. dialect, slang, accent and (e.g. dialect, slang, accent and pronunciation)pronunciation)

Small scale (large area) map conceals detail:•Multiple languages•Local languages•Number of speakers

Reveals:•Regional distribution

•Major families

Classification of LanguageClassification of Language

Classification of LanguageClassification of Language1000-2000 Amerindian

dialects lost

Of the 800+ current Amerindian languages in the Americas, 500 are endangered or worse…

The Spread of LanguageThe Spread of Language

Language spreads as a result of many Language spreads as a result of many types of diffusion:types of diffusion:

– Expansion diffusion -- Hierarchical diffusionExpansion diffusion -- Hierarchical diffusion– Relocation diffusionRelocation diffusion

How has the internet helped spread English?

Language changeLanguage change Isolation promotes Isolation promotes

language diversitylanguage diversity

– Ideological Ideological isolationisolation

– Physical isolationPhysical isolationMountainous Mountainous

areas areas IslandsIslandsOceansOceans

Processes of ChangeProcesses of ChangeLanguage ChangeLanguage Change

Internal influencesInternal influences– Innovation Innovation

(Technology, (Technology, Society)Society)

– ImitationImitation– Unconscious Unconscious

changechange

External influencesExternal influences– Reduced isolationReduced isolation– New ideas, New ideas,

innovationsinnovations– Trade & commerceTrade & commerce– Borrowed wordsBorrowed words

Borrowed Words

•French: •Faux pas•Camouflage•Denim•Mayonnaise

•Italy•Staccato•Corridor

•Farsi:•Pyjama•Bazaar

•Iroquois:•Canada

•Anerican Indian:•Moose•Skunk•Corn•Hurricane

http://www.krysstal.com/borrow.html

Updating the Oxford DictionaryUpdating the Oxford Dictionary ““Our language is transforming, and at Oxford Our language is transforming, and at Oxford

Dictionaries we closely monitor the changes that Dictionaries we closely monitor the changes that are taking place” (Oxford Dictionary of English are taking place” (Oxford Dictionary of English 2nd ed.)2nd ed.)

New words (2014) New words (2014) – humblebraghumblebrag– subtweetsubtweet– binge-watchbinge-watch– acquihireacquihire– amazeballsamazeballs– air punchair punch

Changing words:Changing words:– sick (bad) sick (good)sick (bad) sick (good)– Skinny (thin) skinny (non-fat milk)Skinny (thin) skinny (non-fat milk)– Bad (bad) bad (good)Bad (bad) bad (good)

Standards and DialectsStandards and Dialects

‘‘Standard Language’ (or ‘language standard’)Standard Language’ (or ‘language standard’) Informal agreement on ‘best’ or ‘correct’ Informal agreement on ‘best’ or ‘correct’

dialect:dialect:– PronunciationPronunciation– Word choiceWord choice– GrammarGrammar

Can change rapidlyCan change rapidly– Influential leaderInfluential leader– Government decreeGovernment decree– Corporate decreeCorporate decree

Business Speak? 2007•404 – someone who is clueless (from Web error message “404 not found”)•Blamestorming –a group discussion of why a deadline was missed and who was responsible•Bookmark – to take note of a person for future reference•Cube farm– an office filled with cubicles

DialectsDialects Dialect: A recognizable variation from the Dialect: A recognizable variation from the

standardstandard– VocabularyVocabulary– PronunciationPronunciation– Spelling AND ALSOSpelling AND ALSO– Cadence (rhythm of speech)Cadence (rhythm of speech)– Pace of speechPace of speech– Syntax (the way words are put together to form phrases)Syntax (the way words are put together to form phrases)

Social dialect: dialect conveying social status, Social dialect: dialect conveying social status, class, educational level, etc.class, educational level, etc.

Regional dialects: Regional dialects: – IsolationIsolation– Greater isolation = more regional dialectsGreater isolation = more regional dialects– Imitation among local communityImitation among local community

New immigrants attempt to fit in by changing speech patterns

Regional vocabulary: Regional vocabulary: Word Boundaries Word Boundaries

= Isolglos= Isolglosss

Long sandwich with cold cuts, lettuce, etc.?Long sandwich with cold cuts, lettuce, etc.?• sub (77.15%)sub (77.15%)• grinder (2.87%)grinder (2.87%)• hoagie (6.98%)hoagie (6.98%)• hero (5.18%)hero (5.18%)• Po’ boy (1.77%)Po’ boy (1.77%)• Italian sandwich (0.46%)Italian sandwich (0.46%)

Regional vocabularyRegional vocabulary

““Amalgamated languages”Amalgamated languages” Amalgamation: occurs Amalgamation: occurs

where 2 or more where 2 or more languages overlaplanguages overlap

Pidgin:Pidgin: – Not native to any Not native to any

speakerspeaker– Simple: grammar, Simple: grammar,

vocabularyvocabulary– Used for specific Used for specific

venues, functionsvenues, functions– Improvised, not learned Improvised, not learned

nativelynatively Creole:Creole:

– When pidgin becomes a When pidgin becomes a ‘first’ language of a ‘first’ language of a groupgroup

– Becomes more complexBecomes more complex– E.g.: Haitian Creole E.g.: Haitian Creole

(derived from French), (derived from French), Louisiana CreoleLouisiana Creole

Indonesian:Pidgin Malay•Invented to unite 300+ dialects•Examples:•eat: “makan”•eaten: “Sudah makan”•Not eaten yet: “belum makan”•eating: “makan”

Lingua Franca: common language spoken by peoples with different native

tongues. E.g.: English and French

often used for international diplomacy

Louisiana Creole NumbersLouisiana Creole NumbersNumber Louisiana Creole French 1 en un 2 de deux 3 trwa trois 4 katr quatre 5 senk cinq 6 sis six 7 set sept 8 wit huit 9 nef neuf

10 dis dix

Language and IdentityLanguage and Identity

Language a defining feature of culturesLanguage a defining feature of cultures Loss or erosion Loss or erosion loss of cultural identity loss of cultural identity Resurgence/expansion: cultural strengthResurgence/expansion: cultural strength Colonization: often direct attacks on Colonization: often direct attacks on

language language cultural domination cultural domination

1920s Indian Act"It was through language that children received their cultural heritage

from parents and community. It was the vital connection that civilizers knew had to be cut if progress was to be made...

Aboriginal languages could not carry the burden of civilization”

(Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996)

Renaming and identityRenaming and identity

NWTNWTNunavutNunavut– Resolute Bay Resolute Bay

KaujuitokKaujuitok– Frobisher bay Frobisher bay

IqaluitIqaluit

Indian Colonial city Indian Colonial city names:names:– Bombay Bombay Mumbai Mumbai– Calcutta Calcutta Kolkata Kolkata– Madras Madras Chennai Chennai

ToponymysToponymys

SW 8th St. Miami(Little Havana)

ToponymyToponymy: Study of : Study of place namesplace names– Historical and cultural Historical and cultural

geographygeography– Linguistic geographyLinguistic geography

Indicative of:Indicative of:1.1. MigrationMigration

• E.g. “New EnglandE.g. “New England”, ”, “New Amsterdam” “New Amsterdam” (NY city); French (NY city); French names in Louisiananames in Louisiana

2.2. Changes in power and Changes in power and influenceinfluence Colonial renaming Colonial renaming

of local placesof local places Post-colonial Post-colonial

independenceindependence

ToponymysToponymys

Top Twenty Town Names in America:Top Twenty Town Names in America: Ah! Wilderness CO Ah! Wilderness CO Aloha OR Aloha OR Belt Buckle TN Belt Buckle TN Black Cat DE Black Cat DE Blue Eyes AR Blue Eyes AR Red Eye VA Red Eye VA Nameless TN Nameless TN No Name CO No Name CO Nothing AZ Nothing AZ Purgatory COPurgatory CO Peculiar MO Peculiar MO Resume Speed TXResume Speed TX

Total Wreck AZTotal Wreck AZ Tranquility CA Tranquility CA You Bet CA You Bet CA Ding Dong TX (located in Ding Dong TX (located in

Bell County) Bell County) 96 SC96 SC What Cheer? IA What Cheer? IA

(the only U. S. town (the only U. S. town that's questionable) that's questionable)

Agawam MA 01001 (the Agawam MA 01001 (the lowest zip code in the U. lowest zip code in the U. S.) S.)

Santa Claus, North Pole, Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada HOHOHOCanada HOHOHO