This document provides an introduction to the concepts of language and literature. It discusses what language is, how it is used intentionally to communicate, and how it is inherent in human nature. The document also examines the relationship between language and culture, how culture allows humans to organize socially, and how understanding different cultures can help avoid stereotyping or racism.

1. IB ENGLISH A: LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
An Introduction

2. What are words?

3. What is language?
 An objective description is hard because we
use language to describe language…so what
is it?
 This class will study language in order to draw
some conclusions about what, how and why
language means.
 Language could be called a system of vocal
signs through which humans communicate, as
it has rules and patterns…

4. What is language?
 Language is not finite, it is open ended and
creative…we are constantly creating new
words and sentences.
 Duality of Patterning: The ability of language to
create distinctions through its differences.
 Phoneme/Morpheme
 Prescriptive/Descriptive Grammar

5. Language is intentional
 We use it purposefully in order to
communicate facts, ideas or emotions.
 We have many ways to communicate…
gestures are often used to accentuate
words…but are all gestures intentional?

6. Language is intentional
 Language is used in very interesting ways
quite early in a child’s development.
 Children not only make sounds when they are
young, they communicate something about the
world around them.
 Theory of Mind: We have the ability to
understand that we are thinking beings whose
thoughts and ideas may or may not be the
same as others.

7. Theory of Mind

8. Language is intentional
 Many believe we are born with this ability, but
how do we judge where intent began
regarding this unique human ability?
 When did gestures no longer suffice?

9. Language is inherent
 Language is a part of what it means to be
human.
 Darwin: While language needs to be
learned, the desire to speak is not learned.
 Skinner: We acquire language through
empirically interacting with the environment.
 Chomsky: Humans are born with a Universal
Grammar or language creating facility…

10. Noam says….

11. However….
 How do we separate inborn abilities from
those which are learned?
 What role does culture play in the
development of language?

12. Stephen Pinker says…
 Language is not a cultural artifact we learn, but
a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our
brains, which develops in a child
spontaneously.
 It is instinctual and unique to the human
species.

13. The emergentist perspective
 Language ability is not innate, but the result of
rapid human learning and adaptation to the
world around them leading to the various
capabilities of the brain to work together and
allow speaking and communication.
 We learn and create through language as a
social act.

14. Saussure
 Language and thought cannot be easily
separated…
 It is a combination of langue(the abstract
system of signs and rules which make up
language) and parole(language in
practice, words sentences and phrases as
they are actually used)
 Which comes first, thought or language?
 Can we think without language?
 Can we think in images?

15. The semiotic triangle

16. Signs are EVERYWHERE!!!

17. Language and Culture
 What is culture?

18. Language and Culture
 The interactive activities humans engage in
and teach, whether explicitly or by
example, make up a cultural heritage.
 Culture is a system of meaning for a group of
people…
 Culture allows humans to organize their social
lives…

19. Language and Culture
 Language is what allows humans to socialize.
 High Culture…
 Is culture a set of social rules we must
obey, such as grammar…or is it more dynamic
and reactive, a bricolage?
 The boundaries of culture have blurred.

20. Language and culture
 Cultural relativism…
 Understanding culture can guard against racism
 All elements of our culture are learned and
arbitrary.
 No single culture is right or wrong…simply
different.
 Can be complex due to differences…
 Cultures should only be questioned when truly
trying to understand its context.

21. Language and culture
 How do we define culture?

22. Language and culture
 How do you describe a culture?
 How would you describe your culture?
 One must be wary of stereotypes and
generalizations…
 Try explaining a sport to someone who has no
idea about it…

23. Language and culture
 Celebrating a culture does not necessarily
lead to a critical understanding of it.
 We must consider the power of culture over
the individual and the ways we express our
individual differences.
 A single identity can include a hybrid of
cultures.
 With language, the cultural context of the
producer as well as the audience is crucial.

24. Language and culture
 When reading texts from another culture, it is
easy to relegate the unknown to something
irreconcilable with our own beliefs…The Kite
Runner…
 A more critical approach is to attempt
understanding while acknowledging difference.