The human language system is broken down into productivity and displacement. Productivity is the ability to communicate a large number of messages efficiently with the use of a variety of signs and symbols. Displacement is the ability to refer to events and issues that are not presently relevant.
Our book describes verbal languages as a combination of sounds, vocabulary and grammar. Anthropologists use the concept of ethno-semantics, a study of words, phrases and sentences in cultural contexts. Anthropologist have found that in many cultures there many words for one concept of single idea (ex: rocks or snow). Nonverbal language combines sign language and gestures with silence that can mean low status or high status (an example is a judge in a courtroom or umpire of baseball team). The hand gesters used by the umpire is communicated with the pitcher to choose the right pitch.
Media Anthropology is the cross-cultural study of communication through electronic media. There are two models to help understand language and culture. One model says peoples language affects how they think (Sapir and Whorf hypthesis). The second model is called Socio-linguistics. This emphasis how peoples culture shapes their language and its meaning. The chapter discusses links between language and social inequality and power. An example is "Ebonics." African American students may speak one way at home and speak another way at school or work. Languages both have continuity and they change over time. It is so important to keep cultural languages alive.
The chapter of Miller discuses Religion, which is beliefs and behavior related to supernatural beings and forces. Religious beliefs are expressed through myth and doctrine. The chapter discuses Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, African Religions and Rastafarian; as well as Christianity and Judaism.
Finally the reading concludes with a discuses with expressive culture, which is behavior and beliefs related to art, leisure and play. Anthropologist consider emic definitions of art cross-culturally. Miller distinguishes between Western art, Fine art vs. Folk art and non-Western art, which is useful and artists are usually not trained. An example of ethno-anthropologist is Chernoff and his fieldwork in Ghana. He became a student in the master drummers of Ghana. The social status of artists is shown in gender division of the Navajo of Arizona where the women weave and the men do silver smithing.
Performing arts are more specialized in state level societies, which have political structure and organization. Art forms and styles, like language, are associated with micro cultural groups' identity and sense of pride. They express power issues, Resistance, social control and maintenance of hierarchies. Performance Arts include music, dance, theater, rhetoric (speach -making) and story telling.
Ethnomusicology is the cross-cultural study of music. My uncle is the ethnomusicologist at the Ohio State University. He has studied the culture and people of Madagascar through their music. The chapter discusses many examples of ethnomusical studies. Brazilian country music is an example of the globalization of music borrowed from U.S. country music. Brazilians have a form called "dupla" which means two brothers that emphasizes kinship and caring, which is a Brazilian traditon.
The chapter ends with the distinction between play and leisure. Play has rules, chance and tension; leisure can be activities like reading or relaxing on a beach. Anthropologists study the social roles and statuses in different groups. A great example is baseball. In America, individualism on teams is valued; in Japan, there is the concept of "Wa," which is discipline and self-sacrifice for the good of the group.
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