Spotlight on Students: Focal Language

The Spotlight on Students series features the work of my students, and this edition focuses on focal language.  Students were tasked with identifying and exploring the focal language of a specific cultural group they either were affiliated with or knew about, and the following is an example of student exemplary work:

Comic Kingdom, Reno,  Nevada: The "field site" of Pina-Lira's focal language assignment.

Esteban Pina-Lira

Anthropology 101: 1005: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

            Comic shops have seen a rise in business with the rise in popularity in comic book related movies. Many new comers can be intimidated by the comics and comic shop culture. Working at the “LCS” (local comic shop) I have learned there are many words and phrases that are used that can confuse people outside of the culture that only people in the comic community would understand the real meaning of the words or phrases. Comic book fans can use certain words such as “pull list,” “trade” and “The Big Two,”  and these would be some words that are part of their focal language. To non-comic shop regulars these words could mean absolutely nothing or just confuse them.

            Culture relies on many things for it to survive but some characteristics of culture seem more important than others. We can all agree that communication amongst the people of any culture is one of the most important things. In most cultures they have a language or words to which only people of that culture would understand, and that would be the definition of focal language (Gezon and Kottak, 2014, p. 66).

            Walking into the “LCS” where I am employed, I might ask you if you have a “pull list” or a “hold.” For most people they might not understand what that is, but what I am actually asking is if you are here to pick up your comic subscriptions. A comic shop can reserve comic subscriptions for customers if they have the titles on their “pull list” so they do not miss out on an issue. You might come in looking for a comic issue that you find out has been out of print for a while, which those issues are called “back issues.” I might then recommend to try looking for that issue in a “trade”. The “trade” is short for “trade paperback”, which is the collected issues of a whole story arc. On the other hand, you could come in for a first issue of a title in which you have seen a lot of advertisement for, only to be told that all they have are “variant” copies. A “variant” is a limited edition copy of the issue with a different cover on it done by a different artist. These are typically items usually bought by collectors because of how limited the print run on them is. It can be as limited as getting one “variant” per ten copies of regular issues that the “LCS” orders or one “variant” per hundred they order. “Variant” issues are usually more expensive and are sometimes “CGC’d”, which means they are sent in to a company (Certified Guaranty Company) that grades their condition based on a scale of 0.5 through 10. A “one-shot” is a stand-alone comic issue that is a short story that is self-contained and is easy to pick up for new readers. I would recommend a "one shot" to anyone who does not want to pick up a similar issue that is midway through a story.

            Now this lexicon is not just limited to items in a comic shop, there are words to describe things found in the actual comics. For instance with “The Big Two,” a term used when talking about the two major comic book companies, Marvel and DC,  each have several universes between them. The term "multiverse" is a word widely used to describe their fictional universes. It keeps separate the movie universes to the many, different universes in comics between both companies. Marvel and DC each have their own name used for their own individual canon universe. For DC the name the fan base uses when talking about their main canon universe is “Earth Prime” and for Marvel it is “Earth-616” or just “The 616”. Comic story arcs do not always stay self-contained in one specific title; comic companies have been known to spread out different parts of story arcs throughout different comic titles and have had the term “crossovers” used to describe this. For example, a Batman title can crossover with a Superman title.

            The lexicon used in the comic culture is not necessarily used to keep newcomers out, but it is used to keep terms from getting to complex and to stay simple. An example would be that it would be easier to bring up the names used for the different universes amongst fans than to try to explain what issue, story arc, or movie they are talking about. It is also easier for me as an employee at the “LCS” to use these terms because it helps me talk with regulars at the “LCS” about things in the shop without it getting too complex.

            Outsiders listening to comic fans who use this vocabulary can be confused when hearing some of these words used in different ways, but the words or phrases make it easier for people of the comic fan base to identify to others that share the same hobby. Knowing these terms makes buying comics or discussing things that are going on in comics much easier. In turn it can intimidate new comic fans from getting into the hobby. New comic fans usually come in wanting to learn more of their new favorite characters after watching a movie, TV show or playing video games. Hearing new words like "multiverse" and "Earth-616" can be very confusing to them because they can only wonder what these terms are when talked about, since they are not mentioned in the movies, TV shows or games.

            The focal language that goes around the “LCS” is something I do not even noticed anymore, but when talked about I realize that there are many words that seem foreign to people. Even then I am always more than happy to explain the meaning of the terms that I use. When newcomers walk into the shop it is easy to spot them due to their limited knowledge of comics and the terms used. Next time you walk into the “LCS” you can ask to start a “pull list” or maybe try asking for a “trade” of a certain comic that you enjoy.

           

 Bibliography:

Gezon, L., & Kottak, C. (2014). Anth 101 Cultural Anthropology Truckee Meadows Community College McGraw-Hill  
 

Truckers (www.nytimes.com)

Rebecca Adkins
Anth 101: 1005: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 

The key to understanding a culture is to understand the language behind it. Language changes rapidly, and therefore new words and distinctions are created, expanding one’s lexicon, or vocabulary. Throughout the world there are related groups who share certain lexicons and utilize unique phrases in order to better communicate with one another. These specialized terms and phrases within certain groups are better known as focal vocabulary. Defined by Lisa Gezon and Conrad Kottak in their book Cultural Anthropology, focal vocabulary is “a set of words and distinctions that are particularly important to certain groups (those with particular foci of experience or activity)” (68). The utilization of focal vocabulary to a person unfamiliar with the group may be seen as confusing, but to members within a group, focal vocabulary is useful in their everyday lexicon.

            One group in particular that has successfully employed focal vocabulary is truckers. Truckers are people whose job entails driving trucks over long distances. One mechanical innovation that truckers encompass daily is citizen band radios, or CB radios. The focal vocabulary associated with CB radios is extensive, so I have gathered a list of ten terms and their definitions according to the article “Trucker Slang” on the truckersreport.com web site that is used by truckers to better understand trucker lexicon:

·         Alligator: A blown tire in the road.

·         Baby Bear: A rookie police officer.

·         Bear Bait: A speeding car.

·         Back `em up: Slow down.

·         Backslide: A return trip.

·         Flip Flop: U- turn.

·         Big Slab: Interstate.

·         Clean Shot: The road is clear of police officials.

·         Chicken Coup: Weigh station.

·         Double Nickel: Speed limit is 55 miles per hour.

         The application of CB lingo, or the focal vocabulary of truckers, provides the purpose of communicating with other truckers fast and efficiently. Truckers are a unique community, and they look out for each other. Trucker focal language is a way to inform other truckers of certain situations such as when to drive carefully due to police officers being in the area, when the road is clear so they can drive fast, as well as suggesting different routes due to car accidents. The importance of this distinct lexicon is the ability to stay in contact with other drivers while still being attentive to the road. Driving is dangerous when not having full attention on the road, so abbreviations and short phrases help truckers communicate as well as stay safe.

         People who are not familiar with the lexicon of truckers may feel confused if they hear truckers talking with one another. For example, if someone hears the sentence “Double Nickel ahead, but you have a clean shot, so see ya at the chicken coup,” they might find themselves confused as to the meaning of this statement. This reinforces the distinct division between members and nonmembers. Nonmembers may believe that truckers are uneducated by the way they talk to one another. This assumption can be brought on by most CB lingo being one to two word phrases that make no sense when put together. This is not the case, though. Truckers simply enjoy being able to talk with one another over radios without worrying about someone eavesdropping on the conversation at hand.

         In brief, focal vocabulary is a unique communication tool that reflects experience among a group. Although confusing to outsiders, focal vocabulary is very important to the ones using it and should not be looked down upon as a wrong way of speaking. Language is not uniform, and varies from person to person. It is ultimately an important aspect in understanding culture. After analyzing the focal lexicon of truckers, I can conclude that truckers are a unique subculture with an interesting focal language.

Works Cited

Gezon Lisa, and Conrad Kottak. “Language and Communication.” Cultural Anthropology. 2^nd   ed. New York: McGraw- Hill Education. 2014. 58-73. Print.

“Trucker Slang.” TruckersReport.com. WordPress. 5 Oct. 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.