Second Learning Outcome
Second Learning Outcome
RDA 2
Embedded Files
This module shifts focus from macro-history to the micro-mechanisms of social interaction: Language.
Week 6
Week 6
The Nature of Collaboration and Cultural Dimensions
The Nature of Collaboration and Cultural Dimensions
Collaboration vs. Cooperation
Understanding the distinction between these terms is vital for international relations and business.
Cooperation
Cooperation
This is a "connective" process where individuals working on their own goals support each other. It is transactional and involves a division of labor. Think of a group of nations agreeing to a trade deal where each seeks to maximize its own surplus. Ownership of the result is individual.
Collaboration
Collaboration
This is a "collective" process where participants share a common goal and shared ownership. It involves co-creation. The outcome is greater than the sum of individual parts. In a global context, tackling climate change requires collaboration (shared sacrifice for a shared outcome), whereas trade often only requires cooperation.
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Geert Hofstede's theory provides a metric for analyzing cultural differences, essential for the "international collaboration" discussed in the prompt.
Power Distance (PDI)
Acceptance of unequal power distribution.
Ecuador:
High (78): Hierarchy is respected; subordinates expect direction.
United States:
Low (40): Equality is valued; authority is challenged.
Example:
An Ecuadorian employee might find an American boss "weak" for asking opinions; the American might find the Ecuadorian "passive."
Individualism (IDV)
Priority of individual vs. group goals.
Ecuador:
Low (8): Collectivist; loyalty to group/family is paramount.
United States:
High (91): Individualist; personal achievement is key.
Example:
Americans prioritize task completion; Ecuadorians prioritize relationship building.
Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI)
Tolerance for ambiguity and risk.
Ecuador:
High (67): Rigid codes of belief; intolerant of unorthodox behavior.
United States:
Low (46): Comfortable with risk and innovation.
Example:
Ecuadorians may prefer detailed rules; Americans may prefer "learning by doing."
Masculinity (MAS)
Preference for achievement vs. care.
Ecuador:
High (63): Driven by competition and status.
United States:
High (62): Driven by success and winner-takes-all mentality.
Example:
Both cultures are competitive, but Ecuador's is structured by class hierarchy.
Week 7-8
Week 7-8
The Organization of Linguistics
The Organization of Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The prompt refers to interpreting graphs related to these studies. In a sociolinguistic context, such graphs often display the correlation between a social variable (e.g., class, gender) and a linguistic variable (e.g., the use of standard vs. vernacular forms).
Week 9-10: Language as Identity – Definitions and Concepts
Week 9-10: Language as Identity – Definitions and Concepts
This section requires detailed definitions of key sociolinguistic terms based on Carol Genetti's work.
This section requires detailed definitions of key sociolinguistic terms based on Carol Genetti's work.
Linguistic Feature: The smallest unit of language that can vary (e.g., the pronunciation of the 'r' sound, the use of a specific word like "soda" vs. "pop").
Linguistic Repertoire: The totality of linguistic varieties (languages, dialects, styles) possessed by an individual. No one speaks only "one" way; we all have a repertoire we draw from depending on context.
Dialect: A variety of a language determined by the speaker's geography, social class, or ethnicity. Linguistically, all dialects are equal and systematic; the distinction between "language" and "dialect" is purely political.
Linguistic Variety: A neutral term covering any distinct form of speech (language, dialect, register, accent) to avoid the stigma associated with "dialect."
Standard: An idealized variety of language, codified in dictionaries and grammars, associated with power and education. It is an artificial construct; "no one speaks the Standard" in casual life.
Vernacular: The variety used in ordinary, everyday interaction; the "native" style of a speaker, often covertly prestigious in peer groups.
Code-switching: The use of two or more languages or varieties within the same conversation or utterance. It requires high proficiency in both and is a skill, not a defect.
Loanword: A word adopted from one language into another (e.g., "sushi" in English).
Identity: The social positioning of self and other. Language is the primary tool for constructing identity (e.g., sounding "educated," "tough," "friendly").
Language Ideology: Beliefs and attitudes about language (e.g., "French is romantic," "AAE is bad English") that serve to rationalize social hierarchies.
Style: The variation in a speaker's speech based on the context (audience, topic, setting).
African American English (AAE): A systematic, rule-governed variety of English rooted in the history of slavery and segregation. It serves as a marker of Black identity and solidarity.
Community of Practice: A group of people who engage in a shared endeavor (e.g., a gaming group, a knitting circle) and develop shared linguistic practices. It is a more specific unit of analysis than "class" or "gender".
Personae: Social types or "characters" (e.g., the "nerd," the "jock") that are recognizable within a culture. Speakers can adopt linguistic features to enact these personae.
Cultural Ideology: The broader system of beliefs (beyond just language) that organizes a society's values (e.g., individualism in the US).
Sociolinguistic Variable: A linguistic feature that varies in a way that correlates with social factors (e.g., the "ing" vs "in" ending correlates with formality and class).
The Origins of Language: Chomsky vs. Evolution
The document references the debate on language origins.
Noam Chomsky
Argues for a "single mutation" theory. He believes humans have an innate "Language Acquisition Device" (LAD) and "Universal Grammar." Language appeared suddenly and perfectly in one individual (Prometheus scenario) primarily for thought, not communication
Evolutionary/Natural Selection
Evolutionary/Natural Selection
Counter-arguments (like Wolfe or Everett) suggest language evolved gradually through natural selection for the purpose of communication and social cohesion, similar to other complex traits. The case of Genie (the feral child) supports the "critical period" hypothesis but also challenges the idea that grammar is entirely innate, as she never fully acquired it after missing the window.
Week 11
Week 11
Language and Culture – Revitalization vs. Standardization
Language and Culture – Revitalization vs. Standardization
Maori Revitalization (New Zealand)
Maori Revitalization (New Zealand)
The Maori case study illustrates the fight against "linguistic imperialism." Following colonization (1840), Maori was suppressed. By the 1970s, it was endangered. The revitalization effort focused on education (Kōhanga Reo nests), media (Maori TV), and legal status (Official Language 1987). It emphasized that language is the vessel of culture; losing the language means losing concepts like Mana (authority/prestige) and Whānau.
France: "One State, One Language"
France: "One State, One Language"
France represents the "Standardization" model. Since the Revolution, and solidified by Jules Ferry's laws (1880s), the state has imposed Standard French to create a unified national identity, aggressively suppressing regional languages (Occitan, Breton) and immigrant languages (Arabic). However, the reality is multilingual: Verlan (youth slang reversing syllables) and "Banlieue French" act as resistance identities, proving that a monolithic "Standard" cannot erase diversity.
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