文档介绍：language, culture, and society
Language, our primary tool of thought and perception, is at the heart of who we
are as individuals. Languages are constantly changing, sometimes into entirely
new varieties of speech, leading to subtle differences in how we present ourselves
to others. This revealing account brings together twelve leading specialists from
the fields of linguistics, anthropology, philosophy, and psychology, to explore
the fascinating relationship between language, culture, and social interaction.
A range of major questions are discussed: How does language influence our
perception of the world? How do new languages emerge? How do children learn
to use language appropriately? What factors determine language choice in bi- and
munities? How far does language contribute to the formation of
our personalities? And finally, in what ways does language make us human?
Language, Culture, and Society will be essential reading for all those interested
in language and its crucial role in our social lives.
christine jourdan is Professor of Anthropology in the Department of
Sociology and Anthropology at Concordia University in Montreal. Trained in
linguistics and anthropology, her work focuses on theories of culture and social
change, on pidgins and creoles, and on linguistic representation of cultural knowl-
edge. She has published books and articles on Solomon Islands Pijin, urbanization
in the Pacific, and socio-cultural creolization.
kevin tuite is Professeur titulaire (full Professor) of Anthropology at the Uni-
versit´edeMontr´eal. He specializes in the languages and cultures of the Caucasus,
especially those of the Republic of ia, where he has conducted fieldwork
since 1985. He has published a number of books and journal articles on language
and culture, in journals such as Anthropological Linguistics, Anthropos, and
Lingua.
studies in the social and cultural foundations
of language
The aim of this series is to develop theoretical perspect