Linguistic Theories and Language Acquisition

The order of subject (S), verb (V), and object (O) in a sentence.

The study of how words, phrases, and sentences create meaning in a language.

A specific type of semantics that focuses on understanding cultural concepts like kinship.

A theory that suggests language learning occurs through associating words with objects through repeated exposure and experience.

The belief that the mind is a blank slate at birth and language is learned through habit formation.

A theory that suggests infants learn language through conditioned responses and feedback from their environment, like being rewarded for babbling sounds that resemble words.

The idea that humans are born with a pre-wired ability to acquire language, making it easier to learn any human language.

A period from infancy to around age five, during which exposure to language is crucial for acquiring the ability to speak fluently.

A simplified language that emerges when people with different languages need to communicate. It uses basic grammar and vocabulary.

A language that develops from a pidgin language, with a more complex grammar structure and vocabulary.

A theory that emphasizes the influence of culture on personality development, suggesting that individuals are shaped by the dominant personality type of their society.

A term used by Ruth Benedict to describe Pueblo societies, characterized by gentleness, cooperation, harmony, and peacefulness.

A term used by Ruth Benedict to describe Plains societies, known for their warfare, violence, and use of drugs, alcohol, and self-torture.

A subfield of anthropology that aims to understand how human thinking works in a universal context, often focusing on binary oppositions.

A theory that suggests the human mind develops through stages of cognitive development, with each stage representing a different way of thinking and reasoning.

The process of incorporating new information into existing mental schemas without significantly changing those schemas.

The process of modifying existing mental schemas to accommodate new knowledge.

Internalized dispositions or habits that shape cognition and behavior, influenced by social and cultural environment.

An unconscious desire in male children to have an affectionate and sexual relationship with their mother, leading to hostility towards the father.

The part of the personality that represents innate desires and drives, operating unconsciously.

The part of the personality that attempts to balance the id's drives with social demands and reality.

The part of the personality that represents internalized values and norms, acting as a conscience.

A term in Japanese culture referring to the inner self or

A concept in Japanese culture that emphasizes the importance of group harmony and cooperation.

A field of anthropology that studies human thought processes, focusing on mental models and schemas that guide perception and action.

The study of the possible effects that a change will have on a community. This type of study examines how local populations might be impacted by new projects or developments.

A legal framework that protects Native American graves and artifacts. This law ensures these items are returned to their ancestral communities.

The return of human remains and cultural items to their original communities. It involves giving back objects and remains that have been held in museums or collections.

A perspective emphasizing the importance of universal human rights and global responsibility. It suggests that a shared sense of justice should guide our actions across cultures.

A belief that it's wrong to impose our moral values on other cultures. Recognizing the diversity of ethical beliefs and customs.

The study of how human remains, artifacts, and associated cultural materials are owned and managed. It involves complex ethical issues, especially concerning who has the rightful claim to these objects.

Global efforts to preserve cultural heritage and sites. Protecting important locations and traditions through international collaboration.

The use of historical agricultural practices to find sustainable solutions for the future. This approach combines traditional knowledge with modern challenges.

A theory that societies evolve in a single direction: from primitive to complex, progress, and civilization.

The idea that all humans are born with innate rational faculties that constantly improve their societies.

One of the steps in the evolutionary model, representing societies that have developed beyond savagery but have not yet achieved civilization.

The study of kinship, specifically the relationships between individuals within a family and society.

The belief that cultural changes occur when societies borrow cultural traits from other societies.

A school of diffusionism that argued that all civilizations originated in Ancient Egypt and spread to other regions.

A school of diffusionism that proposed multiple centers of civilization from which cultural traits diffused outward in circles.

A key distinction between civilized and earlier societies, according to Morgan. Civilized societies are built upon private ownership of resources.

The assumption that non-Western cultures are inherently inferior, a common bias found in some early anthropological theories.

A limitation of diffusionism, which fails to explain how societies in close proximity can exist without sharing cultural traits.

A lone thinker cannot anticipate the complexities of a culture. Real-world experiences and observations are essential for understanding. Emphasizes the importance of fieldwork and direct observation.

Gathering anthropological knowledge takes time and deep immersion. It's a long process of becoming familiar with a culture.

A unique language with no known relationship to other languages. Piraha is an example.

The belief that language influences thought and perception. Piraha's emphasis on immediate experience is seen as an example.

Daniel Everett, a linguist, argues that Piraha culture and language prioritize immediate experiences and avoid abstraction, leading to the absence of complex concepts like mythology and religion.

The ability to embed sentences within other sentences. This allows for complex grammar and sophisticated communication.

A linguist who argues that language influences how we think and perceive the world. His work with the Piraha language sparked debate about cultural influences on cognition.

A linguistic anthropologist who studies the Wanano language. She questions Everett's claims about Piraha language and culture, arguing for a more nuanced understanding.