Project 3- Linguistics



Project 3: Linguistics

Introduction

Linguistics is classified as a sub- discipline of anthropology. As an interdisciplinary field, `Linguistic anthropology' is concerned with the language study as a cultural resource and practice. It is assumed by linguistics that the module of human language is a social and a cognitive achievement that offers the intellectual tools for cogitating and performing in the world. Detailed documentation of what is said by speakers (as they take part in daily social activities) is required for its study. This documentation depends upon participant observation and other techniques, including annotated transcription, audiovisual recording, and interviews with participants.

Background

While waiting for my bus at the terminal, I came across a couple last week. Both seemed to be in their late 30's. They were conversing in English but English did not appear to be their first language. Their accent was more of Spanish. I overheard them discussing the rising prices of different commodities at the super market and lay- offs at the man's office. Man interrupted more and tended to be more competitive during the conversation. Contrarily, woman focused on listening and understanding, which causes her to be more polite while she communicates. Woman was listening attentively and carefully, without interrupting, for a long period just to create empathy and to connect better to the other person. Whenever she interrupted, it was more of to show support or to ask questions to better understand his husband.

Discussion

A set of linguistic features is termed as a genderlect that describes the language production of a gender category that is socially defined (“man/boy” and “woman/girl” typically). Genderlect theory puts forward that on the basis of gender, there are separate languages. It is explained by the core of this theory how through the gender acculturation process, diverse sets of linguistic features used by males ...