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| Figure 1: Shakespeare's phrasing is not what it initially seems (Google Images) |
The study of languages throughout time can take various forms. If available linguists and linguistic anthropologists can listen to recordings of language or they can read historical texts that feature the language. These resources provide scholars insights into the technical aspects of the language under study, as well as information on cultural values. You may have already conducted a minor historical linguistic study yourself without even realizing it by reading books from the past, such as anything by Shakespeare. Shakespeare's works are composed in a form of the English language that is no longer spoken today, which frustrates many modern student readers, but they are also full of various insights into language and culture. For example, in Hamlet there is a line where Hamlet tells Ophelia "take thee to a nunnery". From our modern perspective Hamlet would appear to be telling Ophelia to commit herself to a convent, but this phrase actually has a double meaning in that nunnery was also meant to refer to a whore house. The historical understanding of this phrase allows us to realize that Hamlet is not being endearing with his love interest Ophelia but instead mean and cruel.
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| Figure 2: Example of Daughter Languages (www.cs.rice.edu) |
But what happens when recorded or written resources are unavailable to linguistic scholars? How can they study the languages of the past? They will refer to the study of daughter languages, which are languages developed out of the same parent (origin) language that is no longer spoken. Languages ultimately develop out of preexisting languages (as noted in the discussion on pidgins and creoles), drawing upon elements from the parent language. Through the study of daughter languages scholars can gain valuable information about the parent language. For example, English and German, languages widely spoken today, are considered to be related languages that were developed from Proto-German. We recognize this relationship by studying the languages and noting specific similarities between the languages, as well as being able to trace those similarities back to the parent language (Proto-German). The same concept is applied to Latin, the parent language of all of the Romance Languages (e.g. Romanian, Spanish, French, Italian, etc.).
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| Figure 3: Bacon Emoji (Google Images) |
Now it is important to note that language relatedness does not mean that the groups speaking these languages are biologically or culturally related. It does, however, indicate that languages were influenced through contact, which may have also and most likely also affected culture. For example, bacon, the meaty goodness that has captured the attention of many Americans throughout history, originated in England through cultural contact with the French and Germans. Had these cultural contacts not occurred bacon may not exist today (or not as it is known today).
Linguistic anthropology provides scholars a great deal of insights into language and culture, and each of its sub-subdisciplines provide a complete picture of the importance of language and culture-both in modern and historical contexts. Although many people may be reluctant to admit it historical studies, even in linguistics, provide a great deal of insights into cultural studies, which is why historical linguistics is so important. So next time you think history is worthless remember the little tidbit about bacon. ;)
Bibliography
Bule, G. 2016. "The History of Bacon." The English Breakfast Society.
Gezon, L., & Kottak, C. (2014). Cultural Anthropology McGraw-Hill
Welsch, R.L. & L.A. Vivanco. (2015). Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity. Oxford University Press.
20 comments:
I thought this was very interesting. I love the way Shakespeare wrote his plays. Although, I dislike bacon that was interesting as well.
This is interesting to me because language is not only dynamic, it is also an identification
This must be a demanding job in all cultures so that you can trade resources right?
Language describes you more than you may think. A lot of the time it sometimes tell where you are from, well around the area.
-Aaliyah Caldwell
I always wondered why Latin died out since it was such a dominate language back then it’s still mind boggling to think that it was divided to so many other languages and I think that it’s interesting that these cultures decided to put their own twist and make it their own unique language.
I love that line from Hamlet. I have always considered it to be a terrible insult to say to a woman (meaning she shouldn't procreate, so she should become a nun to get rid of the risk of her falling pregnant), although now that I know that it doesn't refer to a convent but a whore house, perhaps it could also be insulting when said to a man. Of course, that depends on the cultural outlook on men who sleep around.
Wow its amazing how much you can tell about a person from their language. And how language can be the same but different in places how one word in one place can be completely different in another place.
What stood out to me in the blog was how an linguistic anthropologist was able to find an alternative way to study past languages.
Linguistic Anthropology is one of the most interesting fields to me due to the simple fact that its purpose discovered so many hidden languages and decoded many mysteries that we know to this day. It's a field that will never die down in my opinion.
When reading this article, I found it interesting to me about language because being at Lincoln, you can tell where someone is from by the way they talk. I found that language can describe way more things than you think it can describe and how language and words from one area in the US can be different than language and words in another area in the US.-Brianne Pickett
The study o past languages interests me because in a lot of scenarios the language is dead meaning we no longer have any current speakers of the language therefore it is impossible to translate or learn it now and studying it to get some type of understanding is our best bet.
Interesting to know that you can find out a lot of something and even someone just by their language.
Ainya Lomax
This was an interesting read because most people don't really think much about language or how important is is. Language is also a means of you identity and a way to identify others and where they come from. I thought the fact about bacon was neat! - Shannon
Its neat to look back in past languages and see how they can change through time. When viewing someone the language is what catches a persons attention a lot I believe. It can give you a better understanding on knowing if there from the area your from or if there in an another country or for some people define it as southerners or northerners.
I found it interesting to me about language because being at Lincoln, you can tell where someone is from by the way they talk.
I like that we are able to learn about the past languages. This post is very interesting and I feel like I have learned a lot. Language describes a person's background and history, you can find some things out about a person just by hearing them talk.
I learned alot about different languages after taking this class. Reading these blog post about a different language, I learn something new each time.
-Daisha Benton
This article is very interesting and informative. Some don't know language can be used for identification, but reading this you learn it can be in some cases.
I did not know language could be so important in today’s society. I thought language was just something someone could either a. Learn to communicate better in the work force and B. Because it was required. I never knew language can I denitify a person which could be in a way because you would be able to tell what country they are from.
-Crystal Riley
The post provides a brief and straightforward overview of historical linguistics, highlighting its use in analyzing language changes throughout time to comprehend cross-cultural communication and cultural evolution. Giving an in-depth understanding of the topic. It also illustrates the close relationship between language and culture by highlighting the ways in which historical linguistics research may shed light on cultural norms, values, and relationships over time.
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