语言相对性课件.ppt

Cross-cultural learning Every language carries its culture to interact with another language. Take Chinese Mandarin for an example, Mandarin is loaded with long and abundant Chinese culture, mainly Confucian culture. When Chinese native speakers communicate with English native speakers, culture shock will occur. Generally speaking, a language may be used to carry a certain custom, value, way of thinking to communicate with others. Accordingly, we say that language is the carrier of culture and a mirror of culture. What is presented below forms only a tiny fragment of the American culture,but it suffices the relations between language and culture. when you get your hands dirty,it does not necessarily in American culture that you ve done some manual work and need wash your hands. Example: A conversation between Prof. Tulai and Prof. Yang T: To do research means to get your hands dirty. Y: So you think teaching is worthier than research? T: Oh, no,what I mean is that you are practicing something(身体力行做某事) Linguistic Relativity语言相对性 Topic: language thought ？ General Idea: The language we speak influences the way we think and act. The spoken language is the symbol of psychic experience. (Aristotle) Development: European tradition: Johann Georg Hamann (1730-1788) Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1788) Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) Final formulation in America: Franz Boas (1858-1942) Edward Sapir (1884-1939) Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897-1941) Interpretations from scholars worldwide till now Definition: Linguistic determinism: The language we use determines the way in which we view and think about reality. Linguistic relativity: Similarity of languages is relative. Languages differ in ways produce different concepts and modes of thoughts. Linguistic Relativity: Gumperz and Levinson (1996) state the point more clearly by using the syllogism: Given that: (1) Differences exist in linguistic categories across langu