Question 1. Instructions to Class: Complete the Main Conference and two respon

1. Instructions to Class: Complete the Main Conference and two responses.

1. Main Conference: Respond to the following question: How are ethnocentrism and language related? Linguist George Lakoff offers the concept of “frames” to explain the conflict between Democrats and Republicans. How does this relate to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
• When drafting your answer be sure to follow the grading rubric (below)
You are expected to
• contribute to each conference within the time frame posted
• 300-500 words
• respond to your classmates, both to advance the discussion and to deepen your understanding of the topic
• read the assigned materials in advance?these are to be informed discussions, and your postings should help further each one
• check your submissions for correct spelling and grammar
• cite all of your sources fully and accurately, including page numbers

2. Write a response to each of the following items below.

a) Ethnocentrism and language are related because language is a representation of culture and it’s possible for culture to exhibit ethnocentrism. The text states that symbolic actions all play a role in organizing and making concrete a particular view of the world. And ethnocentrism is just thinking that your particular views are correct or better when compared to other cultural views of the world. Therefore a ethnocentric culture bias to, or more so to, a particular culture should display certain linguistic attributes that exemplify those preconceptions. For example in chapter 6 it is reveled that language can be used to construct identity of others, groups from which people want to separate themselves from. Furthermore, The text points out that rivalries between Hutu and Tutsi are referred to as “tribal conflicts”, and not conflicts between Basques and Spaniards. The reference of “tribal conflicts” imposes an ethnocentric view towards these groups. Its as if their style of legislation is primitive and unsophisticated instead of judicious and vindicated.

George Lakoffs notion of frames is a slight variation of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that language shapes the way we see the world whereas, George Lakoffs states that its “frames” or mental structures that shape the way we see the world. For example, Lakoff states that conservative politics are based on a strict-father concept, and that the goal is to produce children that grow to become self-reliant. This is the “frame” to which conservative politic place around the idea of a family and that anything that doesn’t fit within that frame is wrong, e.g., same-sex marriage. Under Lakoffs thought cultural metaphors can reveal something about how speakers of a language conceptualize their world. For example sayings such as “time is money” and “war on drugs” give some insight into the Western culture. Both Lakoffs and Sapir-Whorf are ways we try to understand others along with ourselves.

b) “If you don’t understand the language, how could you ever understand the practice?”
I don’t completely agree with this. Sure knowing the language helps you understand certain practices, but it’s not completely necessary. You can read about practices and understand them, like all the examples in the Robbins text book. The Wari cannibals, and virgin test’s in Turkey, or cock fighting.
Or if someone translates or explains something to you. Like AOB/ICR class when you first arrive here. For example, It’s considered very disrespectful to stick chopsticks up right in a bowl of rice, because to honor the dead here, they offer rice by sticking the chop sticks straight up in a bowl of rice. When you do this out in town at a resturaunt and the Japanese people see it, it reminds them of death, or even specific loved ones. The proper thing to do is use a chop stick holder or prop the chop sticks on the side of your plate, or lay them across the bowl. I don’t speak the language and I both understand and respect this custom.
Yes, I think understanding the language and physically speaking to the person who practices it is probably the most reliable sorce, but it’s not the only sorce. I mean isn’t that what Anthropology is all about? Anthropogogists study a people or culture group and write about. Other’s read about it to get a better understanding of the culture.
That being said, there is a difference between understanding a practice and actually participating or accepting that practice as ok. I think when condoning or condeming a certain practice is where language, culture, and ethonocentrism comes in to play, but you don’t necessarily have to understand the language in order to understand the practice.

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