English: Meaning and CultureIt is widely accepted that English is the first truly global language and lingua franca. Its dominance has even led to its use and adaptation by local communities for their own purposes and needs. One might see English in this context as being simply a neutral, universal vehicle for the expression of local thoughts and ideas. In fact, English words and phrases have embedded in them a wealth of cultural baggage that is invisible to most native speakers. Anna Wierzbicka, a distinguished linguist known for her theories of semantics, has written the first book that connects the English language with what she terms "Anglo" culture.Wierzbicka points out that language and culture are not just interconnected, but inseparable. This is evident to non-speakers trying to learn puzzling English expressions. She uses original research to investigate the "universe of meaning" within the English language (both grammar and vocabulary) and places it in historical and geographical perspective. For example, she looks at the history of the terms "right" and "wrong" and how with the influence of the Reformation "right" came to mean "correct." She examines the ideas of "fairness" and "reasonableness" and shows that, far from being cultural universals, they are in fact unique creations of modern English. This engrossing and fascinating work of scholarship should appeal not only to linguists and others concerned with language and culture, but the large group of scholars studying English and English as a second language. |
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addressee Anglo discourse Anglo English appears assumption Australian Australian English believe British English causee certainly chapter Clapham omnibus clearly Cobuild corpus collocations component concept consider context contrast conversational routines cooperation cross-cultural discourse markers discussed eighteenth century English language English word epistemic adverbs epistemic phrase ethics European languages evidence examples from Cobuild expect expression fact French German glish happen human idea illustrated implies interaction John Locke judgment justice justice as fairness knowledge let-constructions lingua franca linguistic linked Locke Locke's meaning modal modern Anglo culture modern English moral natural semantic metalanguage notion one’s opinion person philosophical presume probably question quote rational reasonable doubt reference reflected right and wrong Rihbany Russian say I know seen semantic sense sentence-initial someone speaker-oriented speaking speech suggest suppose tag question things thought tion true truth understand unfair unreasonable values verb want to say Wierzbicka word fair word reasonable