Chapter 4 Language and Culture

CHAPTER 4: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
INSTRUCTOR: MA’AM HELEN BUGAY

Lesson 1
Accounts on the
Origin of Language
GRE
EN
What was the first language? How
did language begin—where? And
when? These are repeated
questions asked by scholars.
Theories and Hypothesis About the Origin of Language
From bow-bow to la-la

• Bow-bow theory
-This is based on the idea that humans imitate the sounds of
the animals call
• Pooh-pooh theory
-This arose with the idea that people make instinctive sounds
• Ding-dong Theory
-This is based on the notion that people react to the world and make
sound symbolism
Theories and Hypothesis About the Origin of Language
From bow-bow to la-la

• Ye-he-ho Theory
-This is based on the proof that humans create rhythmical grunts
which later developed into chants to address physical
environmental needs
• La-la Theory
-The romantic side of human life is the sole factor that is
responsible for the creation of language
Genetic Mutation of Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
-Chomsky postulates that language

was created from a genetic
mutation from our human
ancestors. This human ancestor
developed the ability to speak
and understand speech and
passed this on to his offspring.
Vocal Grooming of Dunbar
Robin Dunbar
-Robin Dunbar’s theory is based on the

notion that people needed to find a
more efficient form of grooming as
communities began to grow larger.
Wanting to keep their peers with them,
humans groom themselves and so did
the vocals develop.
Vocal Grooming of Dunbar
Dean Falk
-Dean Falk an anthropologist suggests that

language developed from early humans- the
mothers in particular. As humans evolved and
lost their fur, the mother who used to carry
their babies on their backs needed to leave
them. To make sure that babies are ensured
that they are not abandoned, the mother
would call him/her and uses the facial
expression. Also, body language and tactile
communication are used.
Whitney’s Origin of Language
William Dwight Whitney
-Whitney’s theory on the source of human

speech is anchored on the natural sound of
human cries. As humans express their
feelings and are understood by others the
use of language began. Also, according to
Whitney, human beings come to use
imitative or onomatopoetic utterance as the
reproduction of the sound of crying.

Lesson 2
Semiotics and Sign
Language
Semiotics
• Also called semiology, the study of signs and sign-using behavior. It

was defined by one of its founders, the Swiss linguist
Ferdinand de Saussure, as the study of “the life of signs within
society.” It is a form of language since there is meaning in every sign
and symbol.
• A semiotician is a person who studies or practices semiotics, deals

with symbols. These may be in a form of image, pattern, and motion
and convey meaning.
Practice of Semiotics and History
John Locke (1632-1704)

• An English Philosopher
• Regarded semiotics as the key to
the evolution of human
consciousness. He further
espoused that language began
with signs, that are signs and
dyadic, meaning a signature is
tied to a specific meaning
Practice of Semiotics and History
Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914)

• Stressed that for one to
understand signs, there must be
intelligence to learn from
experience.
• His concept of semiotics was
triadic: sign, meaning or object,
and interpreter.
Triadic Semiotics of Charles Sanders Peirce
Semiotics Takeaways
-Semiotics in
-It can help us -Some signs are written and
communicate accepted and spoken form
things through understood includes puns,
visuals, unspoken globally like traffic metaphors and
and spoken signs, emojis, intertextualities
brand logos and even cultural
commonalities
• Sign language makes use of the
hands, facial expression and other
gestures usually used by deaf or
the hearing-impaired individuals.
Sign Language Howeve, sign language may also
be very helpful for individuals with
intellectual and physical
disabilitiess especially those with
communication problems like
autism and apraxia of speech.
• Spelling words in signs may be
done using fingerspelling strategy.
There is a manual for the English
alphabets, which makes up
Finger Spelling important parts of sign language.
Fingerspelling is used to
emphasize specific words like
pine, so p-i-n-e would be spelled
referring to pine tree
ASL (American Sign Language) Fingerspelling Chart

Lesson 3
Theories in
Language and
Culture
The Interconnectedness Between Culture and Language
• We can view the interrelatedness between culture and language in these

three opposing aspects:
(1) Language and culture are inseparable since language is closely related to
culture.
(2) Language and culture are independent because speech is a means of

exchanging information which can be used in aspects that are not
connected to culture.
(3) Culture and language are partly interconnected.

The Interconnectedness Between Culture and Language
• Kramsch (1998) pointed three ways by which language and culture are related.
 Ways of doing things and perception can be manifested through the use and
arrangement of words. Considering this, people in society convey culture.
 People postulate meaning in their daily activities and experiences through language,
and thus, language personifies cultural reality.
 The context of communication where language is used embodies cultural reality and
speakers distinguish themselves using their language as their identity.
Therefore, language is a tool for people to express themselves and put significance in
their social and cultural experiences and reality with others
Culture as Part of Language
 "Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desire
by means of voluntarily produced symbols" (Sapir,1921).
 Risgar (2006) claims that language is part a part of culture and a part of epidermal behavior. It is
predominantly held that the task of language is to put thoughts into words, to communicate pieces of
information and to express feelings. Language fulfills many other functions as maintaining a friendly
societal relationship between people such as greeting people, expressing needs, etc. In this area of
stud, Kramsch (1962) phrased the main functions of language in three aspects:
• Language is the primary vehicle of communication.
• Language reflects both the personality of the individual and the culture of history. In turn, it helps in shaping
both personality and culture.
• Language makes possible the growth and transmission of culture, the continuity of societies and the effective
functioning and control of social group.
Language, Thought and Culture
 Benjamin Lee Whorf shared his theory on the

significance of language in organizing our thoughts. He
espoused that our ways of looking at the world depend
on the type of language that we use.
Culture and Its Elements
 It is undeniable that we learn culture through interaction

with people. Culture is not inborn but rather learned as it
is a social product. Words are the best tools of cultural
symbols, such as epics myths and stories.
Vygotsky’s Theory
• Lev Vygotsky, a psychologist, believed that social interactions

between and among people are a key element in acquiring
knowledge, just like how a child watches and learns from adults.
The more experiences a child has to imitate the greater his
intellectual skills and language development compared to those
with less experience and exposure. Moreover, for Vygotsky,
language and culture are intently interconnected. He believed that
every culture has specific dynamics for social transactions.
Piaget’s Theory
• Jean Piaget contends that when children are born they have an
embedded basic structure for cognition as well as for language. As
they mature, their built in structure also adjusts to let them learn
more about complex language and other higher-order concepts. In
his theory, Piaget stressed that children create meaning from the
verbal and nonverbal cues received from their environment and
these meanings change as children learn more because of
maturity. Piaget did not adhere to Vygotsky's idea of emphasizing
culture in learning.
Chomsky’s Theory
• Noam Chomsky is known for his Language Acquisition Device

(LAD) which is a built-in box in the brain responsible for creating
and learning the language. For him, practice is not important as
children never acquire language through it. Furthermore, language
structures can change, develop and evolve given cultural
interactions.

Good
luck!
QUIZ!
(Automatic Perfect) QUIZ
TIME!
What is the title of Juan Pablo Bonet’s
book?
-Spanish
-English
(Automatic Perfect)
What is the title of Juan Pablo Bonet’s

book? QUIZ
TIME!
-Spanish
Reducción de las letras y arte para
enseñar a hablar a los mudos
-English
Reduction of letters and art to teach
the mute to speak
1. This theory is based on the proof that humans create
rhythmical grunts which later developed into chants to address
physical environmental needs.
2. Who is this Philosopher that further espoused that language

began with signs, meaning a signature is tied to a specific
meaning?
QUIZ
3. Who is the founder of Semiotics?
TIME!
4. According to him, practice is not important as children never
acquire language through it. Furthermore, language structures
can change, develop and evolve given cultural interactions.
5. There is a manual for the English alphabets, which makes up

important parts of sign language.
6. According to this theory, humans express their feelings and

are understood by others the use of language began.
7-10 Decipher the sentence.
QUIZ
TIME!
1. Ye-he-ho Theory
2. John Locke QUIZ

3. Ferdinand de Saussure
TIME!
4. Noam Chomsky
5. Fingerspelling
6. Whitney’s Origin of Language

7-10 Decipher the sentence.
THE QUIETER
QUIZ
TIME!
YOU BECOME
THE MORE YOU
CAN HEAR
THANK
YOU!

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CHAPTER 4: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

INSTRUCTOR: MA’AM HELEN BUGAY

From bow-bow to la-la

From bow-bow to la-la

-Chomsky postulates that language

-Robin Dunbar’s theory is based on the

-Dean Falk an anthropologist suggests that

William Dwight Whitney

-Whitney’s theory on the source of human

INSTRUCTOR: MA’AM HELEN BUGAY

• Also called semiology, the study of signs and sign-using behavior. It

• A semiotician is a person who studies or practices semiotics, deals

John Locke (1632-1704)

Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914)

INSTRUCTOR: MA’AM HELEN BUGAY

• We can view the interrelatedness between culture and language in these

(2) Language and culture are independent because speech is a means of

(3) Culture and language are partly interconnected.

• Language is the primary vehicle of communication.

 Benjamin Lee Whorf shared his theory on the

 It is undeniable that we learn culture through interaction

• Lev Vygotsky, a psychologist, believed that social interactions

• Noam Chomsky is known for his Language Acquisition Device

INSTRUCTOR: MA’AM HELEN BUGAY

What is the title of Juan Pablo Bonet’s

2. Who is this Philosopher that further espoused that language

5. There is a manual for the English alphabets, which makes up

6. According to this theory, humans express their feelings and

2. John Locke QUIZ

6. Whitney’s Origin of Language

THE MORE YOU

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