What do we use language for?What do we use language for?

To express emotion;To express emotion;

To drown out silence;To drown out silence;

To establish a sense of belonging;To establish a sense of belonging;

To establish relationships;To establish relationships;

To enjoy the sound of language;To enjoy the sound of language;

To affect other’s emotions;To affect other’s emotions;

To affect other’s behaviour;To affect other’s behaviour;

To convey information;To convey information;

To lie, to cheat, to confuse!To lie, to cheat, to confuse!

WE USE LANGUAGE AS A MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATING OUR KNOWLEDGE

•The invention of the printing press,

•The creation of the Academie Francaise by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634;

•Dr Johnson’s Dictionary, 1755;

“The chief intent of it is to preserve the purity, and ascertain the meaning of our English idiom.”

The Move Towards a Standard

Different views of GrammarDifferent views of Grammar

Prescriptive Grammar- the idea that language Prescriptive Grammar- the idea that language has an ideal form which a community of has an ideal form which a community of speakers and writers should adhere to. speakers and writers should adhere to. Variations from this ideal are “errors”.Variations from this ideal are “errors”.

Descriptive Grammar- the idea that language is Descriptive Grammar- the idea that language is constantly changing, and the rules of a language constantly changing, and the rules of a language can only be recorded at a specific time, or even can only be recorded at a specific time, or even for a specific person. for a specific person.

ADDICT

Originally a word for slaves given to Roman soldiers to reward them for performance in battle. Now a word for a slave to anything.

ASSASSIN

From the old Arabic word “Hashshshin” for someone addicted to hash. Originally referred to a group of warriors who would have a few drags before battle.

AVOCADO

From “ava guatl”, an indigenous South American word for testicle.

What’s the earlier meaning?What’s the earlier meaning?

GiftGift peasantpeasant

KnightKnight dragondragon

MistressMistress payment for a wifepayment for a wife

NiceNice boy, or servantboy, or servant

SillySilly wonderfulwonderful

VillainVillain happy, blissfulhappy, blissful

WormWorm ignorantignorant

AwfulAwful wifewife

•Spellings such as “luv”, “Xtra”, and “nite”;

•Gender issues in language;

•The possessive apostrophe;

•New words constantly being coined.

Should we all speak the same Should we all speak the same language?language?

Latin, French and English have all been Latin, French and English have all been very influential languages, but never very influential languages, but never universal;universal;

The French philosopher Rene Descartes The French philosopher Rene Descartes wrote of the need for a universal language;wrote of the need for a universal language;

Dr L.L Zamenhof created Esperanto, the Dr L.L Zamenhof created Esperanto, the language of “hope” in 1887. Not many language of “hope” in 1887. Not many people speak it.people speak it.

Language and ThoughtLanguage and Thought

““Speech is the representation of the Speech is the representation of the experiences of the mind.” ARISTOTLEexperiences of the mind.” ARISTOTLE

““Man lives with the world about him, Man lives with the world about him, principally, indeed exclusively, as principally, indeed exclusively, as language presents it.” WILHELM VON language presents it.” WILHELM VON HUMBELDTHUMBELDT

““We see and think as we do, mostly We see and think as we do, mostly because of our language community.” because of our language community.” BENJAMIN WHORFBENJAMIN WHORF

Do the words in our language affect Do the words in our language affect the way we view the world?the way we view the world?

hua dii = intelligent (lit. good head)hua dii = intelligent (lit. good head)

Jai dii= generous, kind (lit. good heart)Jai dii= generous, kind (lit. good heart)

hua oon = obedient (lit. soft head)hua oon = obedient (lit. soft head)

jai oon = (over) sensitive (lit. soft heart)jai oon = (over) sensitive (lit. soft heart)

hua khaeng = stubborn (lit. hard head)hua khaeng = stubborn (lit. hard head)

jai khaeng = firm, unbendable (lit. hard heart) jai khaeng = firm, unbendable (lit. hard heart)

Does language affect culture or is it Does language affect culture or is it the other way round?the other way round?

ow jai = willing to please ow jai = willing to please khat jai = to displeasekhat jai = to displeasekhreng jai = to have consideration for otherskhreng jai = to have consideration for others

Is it true that, as a general rule, Thai people:Is it true that, as a general rule, Thai people: try to avoid conflict?try to avoid conflict? see “mai pen rai” as an important cultural see “mai pen rai” as an important cultural

concept?concept?

Conclusions.Conclusions.

• Do we opt for complete subjectivism? Do we opt for complete subjectivism?

• Linguistic Relativism: the view that our Linguistic Relativism: the view that our thought, and therefore our knowledge, is thought, and therefore our knowledge, is determined and limited by our language.determined and limited by our language.

• Linguistic Realism: the view that our Linguistic Realism: the view that our language is determined by our needs and language is determined by our needs and by the world we experience around us.by the world we experience around us.