language
week 3 (4th March 2020)


the importance of the language...



-the importance of language for culture
-which came first - culture or language?
-multilingual / multicultural idioms and proverbs
-degree of formality
-phrasal verbs versus non-phrasal verbs
-academic word-list
-E.Hall: low-context versus high-context cultures

a hen or an egg? a culture or a language?



“It´s all Greek to me…” (“Je to pro mě španělská vesnice…”)



“It´s all Greek to me…” (“Je to pro mě španělská vesnice…”)



“It´s all Greek to me…” (“Je to pro mě španělská vesnice…”)



“It´s all Greek to me…” (“Je to pro mě španělská vesnice…”)
https://www.omniglot.com/language/idioms/incomprehensible.php


multilingual / multicultural idioms and proverbs
your examples...


register / degree of formality



register
❔
Spring is beautiful, but it's also a key time of year for seasonal allergies. As plants release
pollen, millions of people with hay fever start to sniffle and sneeze. There's no cure but you can
take steps to curb springtime allergies, from medication to household habits.
❔

Spring is beautiful, but it's also a key time of year for seasonal allergies. As plants release
pollen, millions of people with hay fever start to sniffle and sneeze. There's no cure but you can
take steps to curb springtime allergies, from medication to household habits.




●FROZEN  - archaisms, unusual word forms...
●FORMAL - scientific and academic language, facts and exact data, words of Norman and Latin origin
(long words), long complex sentences that link ideas together (linking words)
●CONSULTATIVE - neutral language, proper  words, to the point
●CASUAL - colloquialisms, contracted forms, emotions, unfinished sentences, cursing
●INTIMATE - very emotional, nicknames, diminutives...

register and synonyms
nobility / aristocracy
clergy
commoners / peasants

register and synonyms
nobility / aristocracy
French (Norman)
clergy
Latin
commoners / peasants
English (Anglo-Saxon) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDs71AgphkI

phrasal verbs



academic word-list
http://www.uefap.com/vocab/select/awl.htm


Edward Hall
HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oYfhTC9lIQ
LOW CONTEXT CULTURE

Edward Hall
HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE
-high level of shared context
-Implicit language
-significance of non-verbal elements in communication
-relationships built on trust and developed slowly
-centralization of social structure and authority
-people sensitive to signs of disagreement
-space is communal, sharing space ok
-difficult to schedule time
-time belongs to others and to nature
-change is slow
-groups are preferred
-accuracy is valued in performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oYfhTC9lIQ
LOW CONTEXT CULTURE
-low level of shared context
-explicit and precise language
-disagreement is depersonalized
-addressing of the issues is direct
-relationships begin and end quickly
-decentralization of social structure
-privacy is important
-scheduling tasks
-Time is “owned” by an individual
-focus on individual orientation
-speed and achievements are valued
From https://online.seu.edu/articles/high-and-low-context-cultures/

Edward Hall
From https://online.seu.edu/wp-content/uploads/795x400-InternationalBusiness-Chart-SEU.png


HW for next week
1)Choose a genre (tweet, email, facebook post…)
2)Write it in formal and informal English
3)Bring the two texts to our next class
4)Keep them in your portfolio...