Field Linguistics and Anthropological Linguistics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of field linguistics?

Creating writing systems for unwritten languages.
Developing linguistic theories without empirical data.
Obtaining linguistic data and studying linguistic phenomena. (correct)
Analyzing literary texts from various cultures.

Field linguistics can only be conducted in remote, unstudied locations.

False (B)

What is a common alternative name for field linguistics that emphasizes the role of the language speaker?

informant method

In field linguistics, the speaker of a language is referred to as the ______.

informant Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the 'informant' in field linguistics?

To provide linguistic data and evaluate utterances. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Match each term with its description in the context of field linguistics:

Field Linguistics = The study of language through direct interaction with native speakers. Informant = The native speaker who provides linguistic data. Contact Method = An approach involving direct personal contact with language speakers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes when field work can be conducted on a language?

On any language, regardless of its existing documentation or status. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Anthropological linguistics and field linguistics are synonymous terms with identical methodologies.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what was George Lorimer's primary occupation while writing the grammar of Burushaski?

British Civil Service Administrator (C) Signup and view all the answers

The content suggests that intensive training in field procedures is more critical for anthropologists than for linguistic researchers.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to Voegelin, what are the two primary skills an anthropologist needs to perform linguistic work?

understanding the phonemic method and combinatorial technique Signup and view all the answers

The content implies that a competent ethnographic interviewer with knowledge of linguistic analysis should be able to produce a satisfactory grammatical ______.

description Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point the content makes about the preparation required for fieldwork in linguistic analysis?

Practice in linguistic analysis with an informant is essential. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the last paragraph in this content, studying present-day dialects of a language is unnecessary when attempting to write a grammar of that language.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects with their relevance to linguistic fieldwork preparation:

Ethnographic Interviewing Skills = Provides a foundation but requires supplementary linguistic skills. Phonemic Method = Essential to discovering functional sounds in a language. Cultural Understanding = Necessary for effective communication and interpretation. Practice with Informants = Crucial for hands-on linguistic analysis and data collection. Signup and view all the answers

What specific area of linguistics did Emeneau suggest Lorimer had less expertise in compared to professional linguists?

phonetics and some of the very latest developments in phonemic and morphophonemic analysis Signup and view all the answers

Why is ethnographic reading considered important in language analysis?

It ensures that the inquiries made by the linguist are culturally relevant to the informant. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the material, linguistic field work must always be conducted in the native habitat of the speakers to be effective.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What might be a consequence of a linguist asking culturally irrelevant questions during elicitation?

Irrelevant inquiries may slow down elicitation and undermine the informant's confidence. Signup and view all the answers

If linguistics is going to concern itself with more than structural descriptions, the linguistic researcher must expose themselves to the normal ______ of the language.

use Signup and view all the answers

Match the following:

Tamachek = Pastoral community in northern Mali Morris Swadesh = Elicited linguistic data from an Eskimo informant in Connecticut Idiolectal grammars = Subject to repeated criticism, but contributed to knowledge of languages Ethnographic reading = Important in language analysis to ensure cultural relevance Signup and view all the answers

Why should linguistic field work ideally be conducted in situ?

To observe people interacting realistically in the language being studied. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The reading implies that compiling idiolectal grammars is generally considered the most valuable approach to linguistic research.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one specific example provided in the reading of how cultural context affects language elicitation?

When eliciting words from the Tamachek, inquire about specific types of domesticated animals (e.g., distinguishing characteristics) rather than using generic terms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of conducting field research for linguistic studies?

It allows for the collection of culturally relevant and linguistically accurate data. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Restricting linguistic investigation to outside the community enhances the observation of important linguistic phenomena.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Besides accurate meaning, what type of data can be uniquely obtained through field research?

Sociological or psychological data Signup and view all the answers

It is becoming increasingly important for linguists to relate their findings to other fields of linguistics and to other ___________.

disciplines Signup and view all the answers

In the investigation of Gbeya dog names, what aspect surprisingly turned out to be most interesting?

Their use in bringing attention to behavior or attitudes. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Entrance into a community for linguistic research is always straightforward and safe for investigators.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What factors can greatly vary among communities regarding their attitudes toward linguistic researchers or outsiders?

Hospitality and cooperation Signup and view all the answers

Match the potential challenge with its associated community reaction:

Approach by an outsider = Threat to life Linguistic Investigation = Suspicion and lack of cooperation Researcher's Questions = Hospitality and acceptance Signup and view all the answers

Why might a linguist's work, unlike an ethnographer's, unexpectedly cause emotional reactions within a community?

Linguistic inquiries can unintentionally reveal sensitive or culturally charged content. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, speakers readily differentiate between the structure and content of their language.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the Gbeya community example, why was the informant criticized for helping the linguist?

For revealing a proverb that could be used against the community in arguments. Signup and view all the answers

The Coatlán Zapotec people associated their native language with being branded as '______' and ignorant peasants.

indios Signup and view all the answers

Match the community with the language-related challenge they faced:

Gbeya = Criticism for revealing proverbs. Coatlán Zapotec = Shame associated with their native language. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates how a seemingly innocuous linguistic inquiry could lead to a negative reaction?

A linguist requests the translation of a local joke with a potentially offensive undertone. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The Coatlán Zapotec community welcomed linguistic interest in their native language due to its potential for cultural preservation.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary means for the Coatlán Zapotec people to progress socially?

Acquisition of Spanish. Signup and view all the answers

According to the anthropological novel Return to Laughter, what realization can occur as one deeply engages with a foreign culture?

The potential for a clash between one's own moral values and those of the foreign culture. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The author suggests that scholarly competence is highly valued and easily appreciated in the field.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the psychological problem that a field worker least expects to encounter, according to the author?

A psychological one. Signup and view all the answers

The author likens the field work experience for a neophyte researcher to a ______ experience, noting that their student life has poorly prepared them for it.

birth Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental questions might a field worker find themselves asking in the field?

Is my project aligned with essential human needs, and am I qualified to interpret this culture? (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, what is the most difficult aspect of field research for a sociological field worker?

Discovering an authentic and satisfying role acceptable both to the researcher and the people being studied. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, the process of initiating full-scale field experience differs significantly from the process of learning any new role.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Match the following phases of field work with their corresponding descriptions:

Initial Period = Marked by anxiety and distress as the researcher's role is defined through interactions. Immersion = Involves realizing the potential conflict between personal ethics and those of different cultures. Role Definition = A process of developing a presence satisfying to both the researcher and the studied population. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Idiolect

An individual's unique form of language usage.

Ethnographic Reading

Analyzing cultural context in language studies.