Anthropological Linguistics; An Introduction For Beginners

That language is one of intellectual products of human culture is not questioned anymore. Language and culture are in close-complex interrelationship naturally used by human beings as a main tool of communication. For linguists, the phenomena of language-culture relations are interesting and challenging, as well. It is not surprising that in recent decades the studies on the interrelationship among human, language, culture, and thought have been becoming central issues. Those related phenomena are particularly studied in Linguistic Anthropology or Anthropological Linguistics; these two terms are interchangeably used for general sense. The term Linguistic Anthropology (used by Duranti, 1997) refers to the study of language as cultural resources and speaking as a cultural practice. Meanwhile, Anthropological Linguistics (the term used by Foley, 1997, 1999) is that sub-field of linguistics which is concerned with the place of language in its wider social and cultural context, its roles in forging and sustaining cultural practices and social structures. This book, entitled “Anthropological Linguistics: An Introduction for Beginners”, provides the learners and/or researchers of Linguistics with introductory concepts, theories, data, and related information commonly discussed in Anthropological Linguistics. It is highly expected that this book may give valuable information and learning materials to build basic awareness and understanding in this sub-field of Linguistics.