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Language and CultureLanguage and Culture

Helena Helena GaoGao

Lecture 8 16 Nov., 2005Lecture 8 16 Nov., 2005

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Required readings:Required readings:

Wang, W. S-Y. (1989). Language Prefabs and Wang, W. S-Y. (1989). Language Prefabs and Habitual Thought. Forum Lectures, TESOL Summer Habitual Thought. Forum Lectures, TESOL Summer Institute, San Francisco State University.Institute, San Francisco State University.

Wierzbicka, A. (1997). Understanding cultures Wierzbicka, A. (1997). Understanding cultures through their key words. Oxford University Press. through their key words. Oxford University Press. Introduction. pp. 1-17.Introduction. pp. 1-17.

Recommended readings:Recommended readings:

D'Andrade, R. (1985). Character terms and cultural D'Andrade, R. (1985). Character terms and cultural models. In Janet W. D Dougherty (ed.), Directions in models. In Janet W. D Dougherty (ed.), Directions in cognitive anthropology, pp. 321-343. University of cognitive anthropology, pp. 321-343. University of Illinois Press.Illinois Press.

Talmy, L. (2000). Toward a Cognitive Semantics. Talmy, L. (2000). Toward a Cognitive Semantics. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Vol. 2. Chapter 7: Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Vol. 2. Chapter 7: The Cognitive Culture System. pp. 373-415The Cognitive Culture System. pp. 373-415

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The Relations between The Relations between Language and Culture Language and Culture

BehaviorBehavior The language Parallax (Paul The language Parallax (Paul

Friedrich, 1986)Friedrich, 1986)

It refers to an APPARENT change in the It refers to an APPARENT change in the position of an object, or its direction of position of an object, or its direction of movement, that is due to a change in movement, that is due to a change in the position of the observer. (Wang, the position of the observer. (Wang, 1989: 398)1989: 398)

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Edward Sapir:Edward Sapir:““ To pass from one language to another is To pass from one language to another is psychologically parallel to passing from one psychologically parallel to passing from one geometric system of reference to another. The geometric system of reference to another. The environing world which is referred to is the same environing world which is referred to is the same for either language; the world of points is the for either language; the world of points is the same in either frame of reference. But the formal same in either frame of reference. But the formal method of approach to the expressed item of method of approach to the expressed item of experience, as to the given point in space, is so experience, as to the given point in space, is so different that the resulting feeling of orientation different that the resulting feeling of orientation can be the same neither in the two languages nor can be the same neither in the two languages nor in the two frames of reference. Entirely distinct or in the two frames of reference. Entirely distinct or at least measurably distinct, formal adjustments at least measurably distinct, formal adjustments have to be made and these differences have their have to be made and these differences have their psychological correlate.” (1949: 153)psychological correlate.” (1949: 153)

Selected writings of Edward Sapir in Language, Culture, Selected writings of Edward Sapir in Language, Culture, PersonalityPersonality (1949). Edited by David G. Mandelbaum. (1949). Edited by David G. Mandelbaum. University of California Press. University of California Press.

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Parallactic Effect that Parallactic Effect that language haslanguage has (Wang, 1989)(Wang, 1989) In inter-personal relations In inter-personal relations e.g. e.g. While speaking Chinese, asymmetric terms While speaking Chinese, asymmetric terms

of address in Chinese create one type of of address in Chinese create one type of mutual perceptionmutual perception ““Prof. Wang” vs. “Zhang Xiao Dong”Prof. Wang” vs. “Zhang Xiao Dong”

While speaking English, we call each other While speaking English, we call each other by first names.by first names.

The inter-personal relation has apparently The inter-personal relation has apparently changed with the change in language.changed with the change in language.

The relation has to match the language.The relation has to match the language.

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A continuum along which utterances A continuum along which utterances may be rankedmay be ranked

(Wang, 1989)(Wang, 1989)

At the propositional end At the propositional end largely novel combination of words and phraseslargely novel combination of words and phrases with relatively little predictability among the partswith relatively little predictability among the parts

At the opposite endAt the opposite end Utterances which are highly automaticUtterances which are highly automatic e.g., songs, nursery rimes, lines from jokes, plays and e.g., songs, nursery rimes, lines from jokes, plays and

poemspoems In between along this continuumIn between along this continuum

A wide heterogeneity of prefabs, swirling in our mental filing A wide heterogeneity of prefabs, swirling in our mental filing cabinet, read to be “reached for”cabinet, read to be “reached for”

E.g., “how are you doing?”, “what can I say?” Oh my God!” E.g., “how are you doing?”, “what can I say?” Oh my God!” etc.etc.

Also a whole range of expressions that we call clichés, Also a whole range of expressions that we call clichés, hedges, proverbs, idioms, metaphors, similes, allusions, hedges, proverbs, idioms, metaphors, similes, allusions, curses and swearings, maxims and epigrams, mottos, curses and swearings, maxims and epigrams, mottos, slogans, aphorisms, quotations from well-known sources, etc.slogans, aphorisms, quotations from well-known sources, etc.

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Neurolinguistic findings Neurolinguistic findings (Van (Van Lanker, 1975)Lanker, 1975) The propositional utterances appear to The propositional utterances appear to

lateralize more to the left hemispherelateralize more to the left hemisphere Automatic speech shows more Automatic speech shows more

lateralization to the right hemispherelateralization to the right hemisphere Finding consistent with the belief that Finding consistent with the belief that

the left hemisphere is especially involved in the left hemisphere is especially involved in making sequential decisionsmaking sequential decisions

propositional utterances are made up of propositional utterances are made up of longer sequences of decision units than longer sequences of decision units than automatic utterances.automatic utterances.

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Neurolinguistic findings Neurolinguistic findings (Hughlings (Hughlings Jackson, 1932)Jackson, 1932) Jackson made the distinction between Jackson made the distinction between

automatic and propositional speechautomatic and propositional speech He noted that automatic speech is in general He noted that automatic speech is in general

better preserved in patients with left better preserved in patients with left hemisphere damage.hemisphere damage.

Observations:Observations: An aphasic may not be able to produce An aphasic may not be able to produce

spontaneous speech, but has no difficulty in spontaneous speech, but has no difficulty in using common greetings or exclamations.using common greetings or exclamations.

Patients who suffer involuntary repetition of Patients who suffer involuntary repetition of words or phrases, a symptom called palilalia, words or phrases, a symptom called palilalia, some parts of the automatic speech may be some parts of the automatic speech may be exempted.exempted.

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Neurolinguistic findings Neurolinguistic findings (Gilles de la (Gilles de la Tourette, 1885)Tourette, 1885) Automatic speechAutomatic speech The disease discovered by Gilles de The disease discovered by Gilles de

la Tourette in 1885 and named after la Tourette in 1885 and named after him.him.

These patients preserve their These patients preserve their language ability but many of them language ability but many of them suffer a syndrome called coprolalia, suffer a syndrome called coprolalia, i.e. compulsive and involuntary i.e. compulsive and involuntary swearing.swearing.

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Prefabs - a powerful influence on our habitual thought (Wang, 1989)(Wang, 1989)

These prefabs exert a powerful influence on our habitual thought and what we say.

These prefabs are processed differently.

One may reach for them more in the right hemisphere than in the left.

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Inventory of prefabs - considerable Inventory of prefabs - considerable variation from language to variation from language to languagelanguage (Wang, 1989)(Wang, 1989) Chinese colorful curses to release Chinese colorful curses to release

emotions of aggression and hostility emotions of aggression and hostility linguisticallylinguistically Ranging from private parts of the anatomy Ranging from private parts of the anatomy

to the sins of ancestors going many to the sins of ancestors going many generations back.generations back.

Japanese language offers very little in Japanese language offers very little in the way of swearing or curses.the way of swearing or curses. About the worst thing one can find in the About the worst thing one can find in the

vocabulary is to call someone a foolvocabulary is to call someone a fool

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Prefabs has different degrees of Prefabs has different degrees of universality universality – a fertile area for – a fertile area for crosslinguistic researchcrosslinguistic research Japanese:Japanese:

KOKETSU NI IRAZUMBA KOJI EZU KOKETSU NI IRAZUMBA KOJI EZU “without entering the tiger’s den, you “without entering the tiger’s den, you cannot capture the tiger’s pup”cannot capture the tiger’s pup”

ChineseChinese 不入虎穴，焉得虎子。不入虎穴，焉得虎子。

English:English: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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孔子孔子 : : 已所不欲勿施于人已所不欲勿施于人 ... ...

Aristotle:Aristotle: ““we should behave to our friends as we we should behave to our friends as we

would wish our friends to behave to us.”would wish our friends to behave to us.” New Testament:New Testament:

““therefore all things whatsoever ye therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”even so to them.”

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苏轼苏轼《《念奴娇念奴娇 ·· 赤壁怀古赤壁怀古》》：： ““ 人生如梦人生如梦 ,, 一尊还酹江月” “一尊还酹江月” “ I offer this wine to the I offer this wine to the

river moon”river moon”

““Das Leben” by Gottfried von Herder (1744-Das Leben” by Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803)1803) Ein traum, ein Traum ist unser Leben Auf Erden “A Ein traum, ein Traum ist unser Leben Auf Erden “A

dream, a dream is our life here on earth”dream, a dream is our life here on earth” Wie Schatten auf den Wogen schweben Und Wie Schatten auf den Wogen schweben Und

schwinden wir. “Like shadows on the billows we schwinden wir. “Like shadows on the billows we float and vanish”float and vanish”

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William Blake’s (1757-1827) “Auguries of William Blake’s (1757-1827) “Auguries of Innocence” Innocence”

To see the world in a grain of sand, To see the world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower; And a heaven in a wild flower;

Hold the infinity in the palm of your hand, Hold the infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour. And eternity in an hour.

宋曾道灿的重阳诗句：宋曾道灿的重阳诗句：““ 天地一东篱， 万古一重九。”天地一东篱， 万古一重九。”

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Chinese Chinese 歇后语 “歇后语 “ two-part two-part

expression”expression” Offers a channel of communication Offers a channel of communication

that is remarkably effective in being that is remarkably effective in being humorous, colorful, spontaneous and humorous, colorful, spontaneous and vivid in ways that more studies vivid in ways that more studies language cannot achieve.language cannot achieve.

老太婆的裹脚布，又臭又长。老太婆的裹脚布，又臭又长。

歇

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The pivot words worked by simple The pivot words worked by simple semantic extension: semantic extension: 老太婆的裹脚布，又臭老太婆的裹脚布，又臭又长。又长。 The general structure of these two- part The general structure of these two- part

expressionsexpressions

First Part – Pause – Second Part (Surface First Part – Pause – Second Part (Surface Message)Message)

|| Derivation on pivot wordDerivation on pivot word || Second Part (True Second Part (True

Message)Message)

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The pivot word switches The pivot word switches grammatical category: grammatical category: 纸糊的老虎，纸糊的老虎，吓死人。吓死人。

纸糊的老虎纸糊的老虎 – – Pause – Pause – 吓死人吓死人 ( dead people)( dead people)

||

grammatical changegrammatical change

||

(scare to dead) (scare to dead) peoplepeople

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The English writer, Aldous The English writer, Aldous Huxley (1940)Huxley (1940)

Words are magical in the way they affect Words are magical in the way they affect the minds of those who use them. “A mere the minds of those who use them. “A mere matter of words,” we say contemptuously, matter of words,” we say contemptuously, forgetting that words have power to mould forgetting that words have power to mould men’s thinking, to canalize their feeling, to men’s thinking, to canalize their feeling, to direct their willing and acting. Conduct direct their willing and acting. Conduct and character are largely determined by and character are largely determined by the nature of the words we currently use the nature of the words we currently use to discuss ourselves and the world around to discuss ourselves and the world around us.” (quoted by Wang 1989: 404)us.” (quoted by Wang 1989: 404)

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The English writer, Aldous The English writer, Aldous Huxley (1954)Huxley (1954)

Every individual is at once the beneficiary Every individual is at once the beneficiary and victim of the linguistic tradition into and victim of the linguistic tradition into which he has been born – the beneficiary which he has been born – the beneficiary inasmuch as language gives access to the inasmuch as language gives access to the accumulated records of other people’s accumulated records of other people’s experience, the victim in so far as to experience, the victim in so far as to confirms him in the belief that reduced confirms him in the belief that reduced awareness is the only awareness and as it awareness is the only awareness and as it bedevils his sense of reality, so that he is all bedevils his sense of reality, so that he is all too apt to take his concepts for data, his too apt to take his concepts for data, his words for actual things.” (quoted by Wang words for actual things.” (quoted by Wang 1989: 404)1989: 404)

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Whorf (1941)Whorf (1941)

The categories and types that we isolate The categories and types that we isolate from the world of phenomena we do not from the world of phenomena we do not find there because they stare every find there because they stare every observer in the face. On the contrary the observer in the face. On the contrary the world is presented in a kaleidoscopic flux world is presented in a kaleidoscopic flux of impressions which have to be organized of impressions which have to be organized in our minds. This means, largely, by the in our minds. This means, largely, by the linguistic system in our mind.”linguistic system in our mind.”

(quoted by Wang 1989: 405)(quoted by Wang 1989: 405)