Friday, October 31, 2008

Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience

Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience

"Parasnis' 'Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience' will be a valuable addition to the library of professionals who provide services to Deaf people. It will also be of considerable interest to researchers, instructors, and professionals in minority education and bilingualism. All will be informed by the varied perspectives of the impact of language and culture on the experience of membership in a minority group." Contemporary Psychology "Nonspecialists will find that this book provides an intriguing and provocative introduction to Deaf culture, and specialists in deafness-related professions will appreciate this volume for its broad coverage of socioculture issues that impact the lives of Deaf children and adults."

Janet R. Jamieson, Contemporary Psychology "The book, Culture, Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience, is an elegant and comprehensive exposition of one side of this long-standing debate in deaf education -- the side which portrays deaf people as comprising a bilingual and bicultural minority group whose native language is a signed rather than a spoken language (ASL/LSQ). In three well-organized sections, the editor...assembles readable articles...drawing from a wide variety of experts with both academic and personal experience in the field of deafness. The articles are the ultimate product of colloquia on the same topic that were held earlier at the National Technical Institute of the Deaf." McGill Journal of Education "...the section with personal essays makes the book especially attractive for a wider audience. This innovative and interdisciplinary volume is highly recommended for all interested in linguistic and cultural diversity: linguists, psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, sign language interpreters, researchers and educators involved in the education of the Deaf, and last, but not least, all those who deal with the experience of living in the Deaf and Hearing worlds on a daily basis." SocioLinguistics

Language, Culture, and Society: A Book of Readings

Language, Culture, and Society: A Book of Readings

Twenty-four articles representing a diversity of interests and approaches have been brought together in this collection intended to define and develop topics of central interest to language, culture, and society. Opening pieces include enduring, classic writings by Boas, Sapir, Whorf, Mead, and others, giving the volume an important historical orientation. These contributions form the groundwork for the wide sampling of more recent and contemporary works that follows.

The selections chosen for Language, Culture, and Society, Second Edition, reflect several major themes within the field: language in relation to thought and cognition; language in relation to the cultural partitioning of the environment; language in relation to self-as-social; language in relation to social differentiation; and language in relation to its emergence as a sociocultural phenomenon. The editor's helpful introductions point out significant ideas and trace the development of the twenty-four contributions that form a diverse, well-balanced, and up-to-date volume.

Language, Culture, and Communication: The Meaning of Messages

Language, Culture, and Communication: The Meaning of Messages

Using data from cultures and languages throughout the world to highlight both similarities and differences in human languages—this text explores the many interconnections among language, culture, and communicative meaning. It examines the multi-faceted meanings and uses of language and emphasizes the ways that language encapsulates speakers' meanings and intentions.




Monday, October 27, 2008

North American Indian Music

North American Indian Music


Reviewed with Geraldine Woods' The Navajo.

Gr. 5-7. Two titles in the Watts Library--Indians of the Americas series offer glimpses of Native American culture and history. Woods' title about the Navajo includes the Navajo creation tale, describes the land where the tribe has lived for centuries, and looks at housing and clothing, ceremonies and spiritual life, and the clan system. Also mentioned are the Navajo code talkers, who devised the only unbreakable code in World War II, and the continuing dispute over land with the Hopi, as well as a brief look at contemporary concerns and successes. North American Indian Music describes the many uses of music since ancient times and explains the unique beat, rhythm, and melody that characterize much Indian music. Subsequent chapters focus on music from specific tribes.

The colorful photos in both titles enhance the texts nicely, but some of the drawings of historical events are inappropriate and of poor quality. The authors cite their information sources, but both titles show an outsider's perspective. Each book concludes with a glossary, a bibliography, and time line. Whenever possible, teachers should provide native sources to complement this series. Karen Hutt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Indians to Chicanos: The Dynamics of Mexican-American Culture

From Indians to Chicanos: The Dynamics of Mexican-American Culture

Considered a pioneering achievement when first published nearly two decades ago, From Indians to Chicanos--now in a completely revised second edition--continues to offer readers an informed and penetrating approach to the history of Chicano development. Anthropologist-historian Diego Vigil shows a perceptive and knowledgeable background in brief, clear outlines of each stage of Mexican-American history, charting the culture change sequences in the Pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, Mexican Independence and Nationalism, and Anglo-American periods.

He analyzes not only the events and the underlying conditions that affect them but also the dynamics that shaped contemporary Chicano life. The author has absorbed an enormous amount of information and has condensed it in a very readable and understandable fashion. Vigil's ethnohistorical introduction to the Mexican- American experience in the United States is simple yet comprehensive so that readers clearly understand historical developments and the specific socioeconomic, sociocultural and sociopsychological forces involved.

India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)

India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include:

* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken

"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples

A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples

Dispelling myths, answering questions, and stimulating thoughtful avenues for further inquiry, this highly absorbing reference provides a wealth of specific information about over 200 North American Indian groups in Canada and the United States. Readers will easily access important historical and contemporary facts about everything from notable leaders and relations with non-natives to customs, dress, dwellings, weapons, government, and religion. This book is at once exhaustive and captivating, covering myriad aspects of a people spread across a continent.

Divided into ten geographic areas for easy reference, this work illustrates each Native American group in careful detail. Listed alphabetically, starting with the tribal name, translation, origin, and definition, each entry includes significant facts about the group's location and population, as well as impressive accounts of the group's history and culture. Bringing entries up-to-date, Barry Pritzker also presents current information on each group's government, economy, legal status, and land holdings. Whether interpreting the term "tribe" (many traditional Native American groups were not tribes at all but more like extended families) or describing how a Shoshone woman served as a guide on the Lewis and Clark expedition, Pritzker always presents the material in a clear and lively manner.
In light of past and ongoing injustices and the momentum of Indian and Inuit self-determination movements, an understanding of Native American cultures as well as their contributions to contemporary society becomes increasingly important. A magnificent resource, this book liberally provides the essential information necessary to better grasp the history and cultures of North American Indians.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Language, Culture, and Communication: The Meaning of Messages

Language, Culture, and Communication: The Meaning of Messages

Using data from cultures and languages throughout the world to highlight both similarities and differences in human languages—this text explores the many interconnections among language, culture, and communicative meaning. It examines the multi-faceted meanings and uses of language and emphasizes the ways that language encapsulates speakers' meanings and intentions.

Nancy Bonvillain is one of the top anthropological linguists in America. This is one of the best text books on the subject that's ever been written. It includes clear explanations and excellent cross-cultural examples. It follows the major traditions set by American linguists and anthropologists in the study of language description, language structure, language acquisition, language change, and the ways in which language reflects differences in cultural values, beliefs, and practices cross-culturally. It's a handy book to use in the undergraduate linguistic anthropology course and students enjoy it.

Language, Culture, and Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology

Language, Culture, and Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology

Zdenek Salzmann, a native of Prague, is professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst . A specialist in Native American languages and folklore, he has held guest professorships at Yale University and the University of Freiburg in Germany. He has been visiting professor at several universities in the Czech Republic. At present, he is adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University . With his wife, Joy, he is the author of Native Americans of the Southwest (Westview Press, 1997).



Language: Readings in Language and Culture

Language: Readings in Language and Culture

This collection of essays touches on all the major points of Linguistics (very briefly) and is a great introduction to the field. The different authors all have a slightly different style, but it is not jarring and does not interfere with the ability to pull information out of the text. I have read other intro to linguistics books and none have been as interesting or informative as this one. I highly recommend this book to anyone who plans to take a college 'english language' or linguistics class, and to anyone interested in linguistice but deosn't know where to start.



Culture in Second Language Teaching and Learning

Culture in Second Language Teaching and Learning

This book identifies the many facets of culture that influence second language learners and teachers. The paperback edition identifies the many facets of culture that influence second language learners and teachers. It addresses the impact of culture on learning to interact, speak, construct meaning, and write in a second language, while staying within the sociocultural paradigms specific to a particular language and its speakers. By providing a comprehensive introduction to research from other disciplines on the interaction between language and culture, this volume offers an important contribution to the field of second language acquisition.



Context and Culture in Language Teaching (Oxford Applied Linguistics)

Context and Culture in Language Teaching (Oxford Applied Linguistics)

This superb book, much cited in recent articles and studies, popularized the notion that culture is not something "out there", as conceived and taught in many language classrooms, but something created in interaction between people separated culturally, historically and socially. As Brian Street remarked about 6 years ago, "culture is a verb". This book has been instrumental in changing notions of what culture is and how it can be explored in all its rich manifestations--whether in the classroom or out.

The depth and sophistication of the book, far from being inhibitory, invites constant re-readings and new insights: 6 years of reading and re-reading has not exhausted the possibilities. Kramsch's remarkable blend of incisive yet delicately nuanced phrasing, yields a startling clarity of thought and style rare in academic discourse these days. The temptation to plagiarize is hard to resist. It is a pleasure to read this book, and if the term "food for thought" were ever well applied, it would be to this book.

Because of its inter-disciplinary approach and ground-breaking nature, this book should be read by anyone in fields remotely connected to language and culture--not just teachers mainly concerned with applying insights to the classroom. Language teaching is often dumbed-down and reduced to a matter of simply applying the currently-accepted methodology; Kramsch has revealed that language teaching can be (and should be) an intellectual endeavour. She has done nothing less than to revolutionize the nature of the field. We have everything to thank her for it.

Language, Culture, and Teaching: Critical Perspectives for a New Century (Volume in the Language, Culture, and Teaching Series

Language, Culture, and Teaching: Critical Perspectives for a New Century (Volume in the Language, Culture, and Teaching Series

Bringing over 30 years to the topic of bilingual education, Nieto meticulously takes langauge and language learning apart by revealing it as a organ for cultural expression. To expand a child's literacy, to teach them the cummunicative value of language,--especially in a bilignual way--, a teacher and a school must develop an accepting, affirming philosophy. They must listen to students and bolster their solidarity as a cultural of students and as cultures of students by abandoning the traditional ESL or TESOL models. Teachers must strive to understand the linguistic concepts of second langauge acquisition in order to best instill literacy in their students.

All of those concepts require frequent revisits of this book. It reads quite well, but stay frosty. If you skim too much, you will miss a valuable nugget of information. I suggested reading the book in whatever order that you wish the second time because you will fine that each chapter can stand alone once you understand her primary thesis. Also, read it in small pieces while you teach your children about literacy (especially early childhood teachers). Then you will know how to apply it with much more fluidity within your teaching philosophy.

American Sign Language Green Books, A Teacher's Resource Text on Grammar and Culture (American Sign Language Series)

American Sign Language Green Books, A Teacher's Resource Text on Grammar and Culture (American Sign Language Series)

This book is designed for a teacher as part of the "Green Books" American Sign Language series; however, it is a very useful guide to ASL Grammar and Culture for anyone studying American Sign Language seriously (I, myself, am not a teacher, but have a copy of the book).


I was introduced to the book when I first began learning sign language, and it was very confusing to me. I would have benefited, at the time, much better from an ASL dictionary or simpler sign book. My recommendation to those of you who have just begun learning (or would like to learn) ASL would be NOT to buy this book just YET! Start with something less daunting and sophisticated (after all, it is designed for those already familiar with ASL and preparing a class curriculum).

What the book will give you is an excellent explanation of the sociolinguistic nature of American Sign Language--something you typically will not receive from a ASL Dictionary. For example: how sentences are structured, topicilization, rhetorical questions, relative clauses, expression of time, pronominalization, subject and object usage, the use of classifiers, locatives ... to name a few.

All in all, this is a terrifically detailed, well researched, informative and valuable book; yet, not for a beginning student.

Language, Culture, and Society: A Book of Readings

Language, Culture, and Society: A Book of Readings

Twenty-four articles representing a diversity of interests and approaches have been brought together in this collection intended to define and develop topics of central interest to language, culture, and society. Opening pieces include enduring, classic writings by Boas, Sapir, Whorf, Mead, and others, giving the volume an important historical orientation. These contributions form the groundwork for the wide sampling of more recent and contemporary works that follows. The selections chosen for Language, Culture, and Society, Second Edition, reflect several major themes within the field: language in relation to thought and cognition; language in relation to the cultural partitioning of the environment; language in relation to self-as-social; language in relation to social differentiation; and language in relation to its emergence as a sociocultural phenomenon.

The editor's helpful introductions point out significant ideas and trace the development of the twenty-four contributions that form a diverse, well-balanced, and up-to-date volume.

Race, Language, and Culture

Race, Language, and Culture

This volume is a collection of the most important essays written by Franz Boas on the science of anthropology.

"Franz Boas is the father of American anthropology and one of the founders of the field of modern anthropology. The book, Race, Language, and Culture, is a collection of some of his most important essays."—David Schneider, University of Chicago

"An exceptional book. Exceptional because it brings into one volume sixty-two papers written by the most influential figure in American anthropology. . . . Exceptional in that it exhibits the wide range of interests and scientific exactness which made it possible for one man to exert such a profound influence on the growing science of anthropology. . . . This is a volume every student of anthropology will wish to possess; it will also have a wide distribution among other students of the social sciences, and all interested in the problems of race."—Fay-Cooper Cole, American Anthropologist



Language and Culture

Language and Culture

This is the first book-length treatment in English of the interactions of language and culture. Though focused on North American anthropology and linguistics, all major cross currents in the field from Europe and America are covered, from Boas to structuralism and on through postmodernism. The two key issues are how language might influence culture, and how language structure may be used as a model for nonlanguage-based systems. Like Siamese twins, these two themes of linguistic relativity and semiotics have much in common, and the ideas raised in language and culture studies have relevance to cultural anthropology, sociology, folklore, literary criticism, cognitive science, and linguistics.

This book is unique not only in being the sole organic treatment of this important part of linguistic anthropology, but also in its historiographic organization, which allows the reader to see how the field developed along with major issues. At the same time, the relations to the other areas of linguistic anthropology-- sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, paralinguistics, cognitive anthropology, and literary studies--are clearly shown.

Language and Culture (Oxford Introductions to Language Study

Language and Culture (Oxford Introductions to Language Study

Recent social and political changes have focused attention on the debate about the relationship between language and culture. This book offers an accessible survey of key concepts such as social context and cultural authenticity, using insights from fields which include linguistics, sociology and anthropology.

This intro. to culture is an excellent distillation of language and culture, suited especially for anyone who has read her previous book published by Oxford Univ. Press CONTEXT AND CULTURE. Context and Culture (C&C)has many illuminating examples from literature, speech and and media. Kramsch writes densely--every word counts--and readers will find that there is always something new to learn on every reading. It's no surprise that Widdowson, remarkable for his incredibly tight prose, was her editor. Kramsch is a razor-sharp thinker and an accomplished writer. An intellectual of the best sort.

So, to best appreciate this short intro. to culture, read C&C first.

To the frustrated engineering-student-teacher assistant, irritated that such simple ideas as "culture", "communication" and "understanding" are made less simple by Kramsch: Perhaps these concepts are not so simple after all.