1. Methods & Tools (Leo)
1.1. What assumptions are there about the methods of inquiry used in language?
1.1.1. not all languages have equal capabilities to understand knowledge
1.1.1.1. other languages may not be able to understand things as easily, indigenous tribes without counting numbers find mathematics harder to grasp
1.1.1.1.1. for example, eskimos have several different words for snow, for languages such as english we can't understand their descriptions as clearly
1.2. Does “good evidence” vary from discipline to discipline and culture to culture? How is knowledge produced and communicated in these themes/areas of knowledge?
1.2.1. classification systems create false knowledge due to language based descriptions that patients must be described through
1.2.1.1. not all languages can have the same ways of describing
1.2.2. some cultures have languages that are more focused and specific about certain topics, such as eskimos having descriptive language about snow
1.2.3. Due to the relationship between schemas and experience, culture plays a large role in the relationship between knowledge and language
1.2.4. Many different cultures have different views what knowledge is "right" Homosexuality is perceived differently in different cultures due to knowledge about it being communicated differently
1.3. How important are material tools in the production and acquisition of knowledge?
1.3.1. Very important, such as the use of metaphors
1.3.1.1. They are frequently used due to their aid in expressing ideas and feelings with more vividness and description
1.3.1.2. A tool used when words aren't powerful enough to explain concepts and emotions that are hard to describe
1.3.2. stereotypes and schemas also aid in creating images to help produce knowledge
1.3.3. allow for more specific or descriptive knowledge, words are not sufficient to emphasise an image or emotion
1.3.3.1. language is used to form thoughts better and to bring concepts to life
2. Scope (Juan)
2.1. What motivates the pursuit of knowledge in these themes/areas of knowledge?
2.1.1. The importance of language in history makes this area specially interesting for anthropologists to study
2.1.1.1. Anthropologists believe that language is the singular most important invention in the history of humanity.
2.1.2. Language is essential to knowledge, since we conserve it and build it with language
2.1.2.1. Therefore, it is of major interest for study
2.1.3. QUESTIONS WITH EXAMPLES FROM TEXTBOOK
2.2. What practical problems can be solved through the application of knowledge from these themes/ areas of knowledge?
2.2.1. Understanding if animals have knowledge DEVELOP
2.2.2. Understanding the acquisition of knowledge and language at early ages of a child
2.2.3. EMOTIONS SECTION
2.3. What are the key current open/unanswered questions in these themes/areas of knowledge?
2.3.1. Does the language used affect the knowledge created?
2.3.1.1. The Sapir–Whorf hypothesis, now more generally referred to as linguistic relativism, holds that language shapes cognition and therefore knowledge.
2.3.2. Can all knowledge be expressed in words and symbols?
2.3.2.1. Early humans certainly had knowledge but this was limited to personal experience of the knowledge itself, or to an individual demonstrating or modelling knowledge and information. Lacking symbolic representation, early humans were incredibly limited in the knowledge they could accumulate over time.
2.3.3. Is it possible to have knowledge without language?
2.3.3.1. Do animals have knowledge or do they just respond to stimuli?
2.3.3.1.1. This question has been mostly answered by scientists, who share the perspective that animals' learning only consists on responses to stimuli
2.3.3.2. A study on Samoan children by Odden and Rochat (2004) provides evidence for both social cognitive theory and the belief that knowledge can be acquired without language.
2.3.4. Does not having language limit the knowledge we can acquire?
2.3.4.1. DEVELOP QUESTIONS
2.3.5. If we cannot express something with language, does that mean that we do not know it?
2.4. What makes this theme/area of knowledge important?
2.4.1. The importance of language in human knowledge comes from the fact that it is the way we express, create and keep knowledge in all the world.
2.4.2. Language is, unlike other themes, also a universal element for humans, since we all use it and are daily involved with it
2.4.3. Language is used to comunicate knowldege political power control types of language therefore controlling the truth
3. Ethics (Dave)
3.1. Should the pursuit of knowledge in these themes/areas of knowledge be subject to ethical constraints?
3.1.1. Whether new knowledge were to be beneficial to society or ethically incorrect should influence whether we should pursue that knowledge.
3.1.1.1. utilitarianism- to benefit as much people
3.2. What responsibilities rest on the knower as a result of their knowledge in these themes/areas of knowledge?
3.2.1. Ethical responsibility to uphold cultural Norms
3.2.1.1. Schools don't allow Child Swearing
3.3. New knowledge has the power to reestablish values as they change the foundational principles that make up societal values.
3.3.1. It is now wrong to refer to the Slaves as immigrant workers whereas it wouldn't be in the past
3.4. How can we know when we should act on what we know?
3.4.1. When our sources come from a reliable source
3.4.2. Unbiased in terms of language used (implicit meanings)
3.4.3. knowledge can be meant to do deceive or manipulate us
3.4.3.1. The manipulation of language can to be used to manipulate our views
3.4.3.1.1. Anchoring
3.4.3.1.2. Usage of euphemisms and Semantics
3.5. Do established values change in the face of new knowledge?
4. Perspectives (Louis)
4.1. What is the significance of key historical developments within these themes/areas of knowledge?
4.1.1. Hierarchal societies that have evolved languages to fit these societies.
4.1.2. Different cultures require different types of knowledge and as they evolve, they have parts of language they choose not to improve
4.1.2.1. There is a tribe that only have 4 phrases for maths, it could be because from their perspective, they do not need any way of counting.
4.1.2.2. Eskimos have multiple words for the word "snow".
4.1.2.2.1. Their language has evolved around their surroundings/way of life and culture because they have different needs from us.
4.2. What do these themes/areas of knowledge identify about knowledge that is rooted in particular social and cultural groups?
4.2.1. Some people believe that a culture's assumptions are reflected in language.
4.2.2. In English, there are only a few words to address different family members. However, in Chinese there are different ways to address each member of the family depending on their connection to them.
4.2.2.1. This can show that Chinese culture really respects family
4.2.3. Even though it could be much more efficient if all people switched to the most popular language
4.2.3.1. This is because language is part of cultures some people feel obliged to use their own language due to reasons such as patriotism
4.3. Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
4.3.1. Some types of knowledge are less open to interpretation because of language barriers between different languages.
4.3.2. Some cultures have languages without certain words.
4.3.2.1. However, knowledge cannot be lost, it can only be forgotten, then remembered in a different form.
4.3.2.1.1. If the word freedom is remove from language, the concept of it will still stay and it can be remembered/brought back under a new name
4.3.2.2. A real life example could be that the Chinese government had censored some words that they perceived as critical of the government.
4.3.2.2.1. This can show that the Chinese government believes the claim that language can limit knowledge if they have gone such lengths to do so.
4.3.2.3. In George Orwell's "1984", the government controls people's thoughts with a new language "newspeak" that has a limited amount of words.
4.4. Is an understanding of the perspective of other knowers essential in the pursuit of knowledge?
4.4.1. Seeking various perspectives help people understand topics "from different angles" because different people see things differently due to unique past experiences.
4.4.1.1. One example might be that a person who has never seen a gun before wouldn't be scared by it compared to one who has seen it kill.