Anthropology 1100: Language and Communication

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson
Download our mobile app to listen on the go
Get App

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a key difference between human language and primate call systems?

  • Human language relies solely on instinct, while primate calls are learned.
  • Human language exhibits displacement, allowing discussion of past and future events, while primate calls are primarily tied to the present. (correct)
  • Primate calls can combine to make complex meanings, whereas human language cannot.
  • Primate call systems can express abstract ideas, while human language is limited to concrete concepts.

In linguistic terms, what does 'displacement' refer to?

  • The ability to talk about things that are not present. (correct)
  • The distortion of meaning during translation between languages.
  • The geographical movement of languages over time.
  • The replacement of one language by another in a community.

Which of the following best describes the difference between an index and an icon in semiotics?

  • An icon communicates feeling, whereas an index communicates fact.
  • An index is a direct representation of something, whereas an icon is a learned convention.
  • An index is always arbitrary, whereas an icon is always based on natural resemblance.
  • An icon has a physical resemblance to the signified, whereas an index has a direct causal link to it. (correct)

What is 'openness' referring to in the context of language?

<p>The capacity to create new linguistic signals and meanings. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the function of a phoneme?

<p>It is the smallest unit of sound that can signal a difference in meaning. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a morpheme?

<p>The smallest unit of language that carries meaning. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a non-verbal channel of communication that conveys meaning?

<p>Maintaining consistent eye contact to indicate attentiveness or sincerity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of sociolinguistics as a field of study?

<p>The relationship between language and social factors such as class, gender, and ethnicity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might some dialects of a language be stigmatized?

<p>Because they are associated with groups that hold less social power. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

<p>Language influences the way we perceive and think about the world. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial characteristic that would allow archaeologists to distinguish between wild wheat and early domesticated wheat?

<p>Wild wheat would have smaller grains and a brittle rachis, causing the seeds to disperse more easily. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is characteristic of domesticated sheep compared to their wild counterparts?

<p>Increased wool production and docility for easier management. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Natufians, and why are they significant in the study of human settlement?

<p>A sedentary hunter-gatherer culture in the Levant who harvested wild grains and lived in settled villages. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Fertile Crescent best known for in the context of human history?

<p>One of the earliest centers for plant and animal domestication and agricultural development. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Catal Huyuk best known for?

<p>Its unusually dense settlement and unique architectural features, including houses without street access. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Jericho known for?

<p>Being one of the earliest known cities with evidence of sophisticated urban planning and defensive structures. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics is most indicative of a chiefdom as a form of social organization?

<p>Centralized political authority and social ranking based on kinship. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an egalitarian society?

<p>A society in which all members have equal access to resources and status. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key distinction between a Type 1 and Type 2 ranked society?

<p>Type 1 societies exhibit ascribed status (inherited), while Type 2 societies allow for achieved status through individual effort. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a state-level society?

<p>Centralized government with the power to enforce laws, collect taxes, and maintain a standing army. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Diff. human/primate communication?

Human language uses arbitrary symbols, primate calls are often instinctual and limited.

What is displacement?

The ability to refer to things that are not present (past, future, or hypothetical).

What is an icon?

A representation that resembles what it stands for, like a photograph.

What is a symbol?

Culturally defined understanding.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is openness?

The ability to create an infinite range of new messages.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a phoneme?

The smallest unit of sound that can signal a difference in meaning.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of language that has a meaning.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is sociolinguistics?

The study of language in its social context.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a dialect?

A variety of language spoken by a group of people, differing in vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

The hypothesis that language shapes our perception of reality.

Signup and view all the flashcards

When did domestication begin?

Around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Revolution.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Centers of early agriculture?

Areas where the earliest evidence of agriculture is found, such as the Fertile Crescent.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Wild vs. domesticated wheat?

Wild wheat shatters easily; domesticated wheat does not.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Wild vs. domesticated sheep?

Wild sheep are leaner and more agile, while domesticated sheep are fatter and more docile.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Who were the Natufians?

A Middle Eastern culture that lived around 12,500 to 10,200 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. They lived a sedentary lifestyle, relying on wild grains and hunting.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the Fertile Crescent?

An area in the Middle East with rich soils and abundant water.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is Catal Huyuk?

A large early city in Anatolia (modern Turkey), known for its dense housing and early religious practices.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is Jericho?

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, located in the Middle East. Over time, Jericho transitioned from hunter-gatherers to agriculture.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are chiefdoms?

A society with hereditary leaders, social ranking, and centralized authority.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Define 'egalitarian'.

A society based on equality of opportunity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

  • Anthropology 1100, Introduction to Anthropology, Spring 2025, S. Jobrack, Instructor.
  • Review questions for Exam 2, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25.
  • The exam will be in the same format as Exam 1 (50 multiple choice questions).
  • The questions are intended to help with studying, and knowing the material well will provide good preparation.

Week 7: Language and Our Worlds

  • What are the key differences between human language and primate call systems?
  • What is "displacement" in the context of language?
  • Define and differentiate between:
  • Sign
  • Index
  • Icon
  • Symbol
  • What is "openness" in language?
  • What is a phoneme?
  • What is a morpheme?
  • What are some non-verbal channels of communication?
  • What is sociolinguistics?
  • What is a dialect, and why do the textbook authors avoid using the term?
  • Why are some dialects of American English stigmatized?
  • What does Tannen say about the differences between men's and women's speech?
  • What does Chomsky say about the deep structure of all languages?
  • What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis/Linguistic Relativity?

Week 8: Human Settlement and Society

  • Approximately when did humans begin domesticating plants and animals?
  • What are some proposed reasons for why our ancestors began domesticating plants and animals?
  • Was the advent of agriculture and animal domestication entirely beneficial?
  • Where were some of the earliest centers of agriculture?
  • How can wild wheat be distinguished from domesticated wheat?
  • How can wild sheep be distinguished from domesticated sheep?
  • Who were the Natufians, where did they live, and how did they sustain themselves?
  • What is the Fertile Crescent?
  • What is Çatalhöyük?
  • What is Jericho, how did its inhabitants make a living, and how did it change over time?
  • What are chiefdoms (or ranked societies)?
  • What are type 1 ranked societies?
  • What are type 2 ranked societies?
  • What are states?
  • Define "egalitarian."

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser