Today on the blog we will be returning to our studies of
linguistic anthropology. This blog post
will discuss semantics. A more thorough
discussion on semantics and its use within the discipline of anthropology,
specifically language and culture, will follow.
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. This includes meanings of words, phrases,
signs, and symbols, which act as signifiers, whereas their meaning is their
denotata. Ultimately, when
anthropologists seek to understand meaning in language they are gaining
insights into the culture itself since meanings of words can and do change over
time, and the meanings are not consistent across all cultures.
Meanings within language change due to changing cultural
norms and values within the culture. For
example, take the word “Facebook”. Today
that word refers to the social media site that connects people across the
globe, and people can share (or overshare, in some cases) all aspects of their
personal and professional lives. This
meaning is pretty prolific today, but the word “Facebook” originally referred
to a physical yearbook used by colleges for their students. Very few people know this meaning as it has
been diminished by the megalithic social media giant, Facebook, but this is one example of how the meanings of words have
changed.
Also, words and symbols do not mean the same things
universally. A thorough discussion on
the cultural
meanings of gestures can be found in a previous post, but different
meanings of words also exist. For
example, the world tabernacle refers to an aspect of religion where people can
congregate to discuss religious matters.
At least in English and many other languages it does. In Quebecois French, however, this term has
morphed into an inappropriate slur based on changing cultural norms and values
associated with French Catholicism in the province.
Based on what you have learned in today’s blog post can you
think about how language has changed in your lifetime? Or do you manipulate language to your own ends
that result in changing meanings?
Chances are you do, and it is all a matter of semantics. 😉
References
Gezon, L., & Kottak, C.
(2014). Cultural Anthropology
McGraw-Hill
31 comments:
Language changes as generations go in and out. For example "Lit is defined as "the past and past participle of light". Our generation uses "lit" as a term for having fun.
Language changes as generations go in and out like @Ariauna Carver said which is very true for example the word "Hoe" is a garden tool that is use for planting, but previous generations have took the word "Hoe" and made this word into a person who you would call a prostitute or male or female who you feel does not have self respect for themselves.
Just the other day my great grandpa was asking me who I was hooking up with, to him this just meant dating, but now it has a total different meaning. I had to explain what it meant so he wouldn't use that term.
About a year ago I heard the term "clutch" used by someone about 6 years younger than me. I immediately assumed they were talking about the clutch in a manual vehicle, I was wrong. They were talking about something and trying to say that it was "cool" or "dope" by using the term "clutch" instead of trying to say that whatever they were talking about was like a manual transmission in a vehicle.
It is both interesting and scary to think what the meaning of words/actions will mean 200 years from now.
I live with my grandparents and one day I said "boosie". Boosie to them was just a nickname, boosie to my generation means wack, fake, or letting someone down in the terms of them trying to date you or "talk" to you, they will call or think that you're boosie.
Its crazy to me because I never looked at boosie as being just a nickname, I thought it was just a KC word that everyone knew.
growing up with a mother who was raised in the inner city of STL, i got a early ear full of the twist of words that i was learning in school. Some of the words like "bad" meant good to my mom but also meant bad, and "tight" meant something looked nice rather than the technical form.
Today there is many type of slang language that we use. That our grandparents never even heard of before. Our generation had changes so much.
Its very interesting to learn about semantics. Growing up in the early 90's to today its crazy how much the english language has changed on different regions of America. Its neat to sometimes watch different t.v. shows and listen to the accents and different phrases they use to shorten up a complete sentence. Example: That was rad bro. Meaning that was at a very high standing point.
In this case, language for me has always had to of been balanced out between home and school. Growing up with foreign parents who barely speak English and than going back to school where the English language is dominate, I've always had to balance out the two languages. This is a nice read
The meaning of words change everyday. Teens may use the same slang as their grandparents used when they was that age but it has two totally different meanings. Back in the day "hella" was a curse word but now when I use the word it like another way to express yourself. For example, that's hella funny. Which means that's very funny.
What they knew as "facebook" back then i know as a year book. its the exact same thing. my mom tells me all the time, practically everyday that the generation i grew up in changed meanings to a lot of words.
Brandon Allen
I'm from chicago a lot of people don't understand the way we talk.The "slang" words we use are different from most people in missouri. So when i first started school I didn't understand what people meant or I thought they was coming off disrespectful but they really had no idea of the mutiple.
I truly never actually put meaning into what language actually meant but Semantics is the study of meaning in language. I didn't know that. Language has changed in my lifetime because more and more people use slang rather than more professional terms. So todays society is using language differently than before. I think it is very interesting to actually think about it and put thought into it.
Language is a big part of our lives. I think it's safe to say that if you go anywhere different from your hometown, that you will find something different about the way people talk elsewhere. To me, this has a lot to do with what's going on around you and how it may relate to most people in that same area. Just my way of thinking. -Christopher McFadden
I feel like in this generation alot of people use their own slang now instead of there being a language change. I dont think there is too much of a language vhange today.
-Daisha Benton
i think language is a big part for our generation becasuse i think our generation as came up with so many different word this our parents have not heard.
This blog post is interesting and very relevant. There are many words and phrases that we use today that does not have the same meaning it had in past generations.
This article is very true language changes everyday, which is why another reason English language can be very complex and hard to learn. For example my mom told me that the word "gang" has changed back in her day the word "gang" was used as in a street crime and violence. where as today in our new generation the word "gang" can be the meaning of family or as in close friendship
The article is right about how language changes so much and very often. We say words now that were the same but meant a whole different thing from what we use and describe things now .
Ainya Lomax
I find this article very interesting because language has changed so much over the years compared to how it was when my parents or grandparents were little. Words that people my age use are not always understood by the older generation due to words evolving into numerous different meanings.
Dalyla jordan
I've never thought of language like this, or the way I speak and the words I use. This is interesting.
I agree that with most of our social media apps over time we have changed the purpose and function of these sights. Twitter and snap chat for example when they first started people used them on a more simple basic term but now updates have changed the overall purpose of these sites to fit how we interact - caleb mcconnell
It's pretty funny how much terms can change in a lifetime. My grandparents still used the term "gay" as happy when I was a small child. It caused a few misunderstandings later in my life!
Things change over time and in today's society, I notice that people have taken old symbols that mean something; and made into something totally different. Bringing about a new definition and perception to those who do not know that this is nothing new.
I love going back and reading common slogans from the roaring 20's. How if you use some of them today many would find them to be quite silly. Its crazy how terms are determined by certain cultures and meanings can vary from one to another.
This article was right about how language and slang changes over time in this day and age there is so many slang words that are going around. I remember in the 6th grade I started to hang with a new crowd of people and they would say "Slide me some skin " and I remember being so confused about it but in reality it meant shake my hand it was quite funny learning that . - Mykia Chaney
Once I came to college. No one really understood the words i used and I chose to use them. Language always changes rapidly.
Language changes just as much as the generation does. In a few years i might not know what the new slang or lingo is because ill be older.
Language definitely plays a big part in our generation because there is so many different types of slang going around now. There's words that most of our parents don't know. As generations change, more language changes happen.
- Kyla Thomas
It was interesting to learn more about how cultural norms and values can change the meanings within languages. It's crazy to think you can say something in one language and it mean an inappropriate slur in another language.
Elaine christopher
This post emphasizes how semantics plays a crucial role in revealing the cultural meanings that are concealed inside language, underscoring the multidisciplinary character of anthropology. It provides an example of how language study can shed light on cultural norms, values, and historical shifts. For example, the development of the word "Facebook" and the cultural changes in the interpretation of "world tabernacle," enriches the semantic conversation. These examples highlight the practical uses of semantic analysis as well as its usefulness in modern settings.
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