Topics: Anthropology : Linguistic Anthropology
Linguistic anthropology is the holistic study of language in terms of culture. Traditionally, it was concerned with non-Western language and culture. Today, the field embraces the anthropological study of language in all societies.
Ape Sign Language
Language is often pointed to as the hallmark of the human species. This assertion has had many proponents into the twentieth century and it is widely held that humans differ markedly from animals in their use of language.
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Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is most strongly associated with the writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. It is also called "the Whorfian hypothesis," "the linguistic relativity hypothesis," or "linguistic determinism." In its strong form, which is generally rejected today, it implies that possible thoughts are effectively determined by language.
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