INTRODUCTION TO THE
GLOBAL MOSAIC OF LANGUAGE

This introduction is designed for you to gain an appreciation that language is an essential element of culture.  Answer the following questions to the best of your ability on a separate sheet of paper.  Every answer must be paraphrased into your own words and must be answered fully to receive credit.  You may not plagiarize or work with another individual to answer these questions.  The Honor Code must be written out and signed before you turn this in.

ACTIVITY 1:  100 Eskimo Words for Snow: Fact or Myth?
There are an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 languages spoken throughout the world today.  One of the great beliefs in the many languages of the world is that, "Eskimos have more than a hundred words for snow."  However, is this statement true?  If so, what are they?  Can we really believe everything we hear?
Go to The Great Inuit Vocabulary Hoax

1) Discuss the problem with saying there is an Eskimo language.
2) What is the origin of the word "Eskimo"?
3) Are there 100 words for snow in this particular language?  Explain.
OPTIONAL: Through your own research, find out how many ethnic groups exist around that region.
 

ACTIVITY 2: What's in a Name?  Geographic Place Names
In China, Mandarin Chinese place names are often determined by their geographic location.  (Most words are listed in the pinyin spellings, not the older Wade-Giles system)
Go to Chinese Place Names

4) Translate the following Chinese place names into English:

OPTIONAL: What other Chinese dialects exist, other than Mandarin?

ACTIVITY 3: Britspeak: Same Language, Different Dialects
Sometimes misunderstandings occur because words have multiple meanings, and meanings can change over time due to the dynamic nature of language.  English has an extensive vocabulary, and words used in Great Britain may have alternate meanings than in other English-speaking countries.
Go to the Britspeak Page

Translate the following British sentences into American English by changing the underlined words (note that you can scroll to the bottom of the page to select different lists of words):

5) The homely lad went up the lift and into his lounge to have some bubble and squeak, aubergine, and biscuits for afters.
6) The berk was over the moon when the crumpet said she'd go with him to his flat until he realized she had a bun in the oven.
OPTIONAL: Create your own ("G-rated") sentence using "Britspeak".
 

ACTIVITY 4: The Great Pop vs. Soda Controversy
Since the earliest research into the the English Language as spoken in North America was begun by Noah Webster in the early 18th century, the regional variations in dialect have always been the most challenging and difficult to explain field. Since the development of carbonated beverage in 1886, one of linguistic geography's most important (?) and least investigated phenomena has been the sharp regional divisions in the use of the terms "pop" and "soda."
Go to Pop vs. Soda; read the Abstract and the Introduction.

Click on the Map of the U.S.  Analyze the map.  
7) Click on Florida to see the county data.  What county do you live in and what is the statistical breakdown?  
8) Go back to the map of the U.S. and discuss any trends you find.  Do you notice any linguistic islands?
OPTIONAL: Identify another word that has several other slang words associated with it.  Hypothesize where in the U.S. the slang words are used.
 

ACTIVITY 5: The Great Esperanto Experiment
Esperanto is a language that was developed in 1887 by Ludwik Zamenhof with the specific intent of creating an international second language. In 1905, Zamenhof published his Fundamento de Esperanto, which lays down the basic principles of the language's structure and formation.  Esperanto is probably the most successful of the artificial international languages. The number of Esperanto speakers is estimated at more than 2 million. The Universala Esperanto-Asocio (founded in 1908) has members in 83 countries, and there are 50 national Esperanto associations that use Esperanto. More than 30,000 books have been published in Esperanto.
Go to the Travel Language Page

Select English for the language you speak, and Esperanto for the language you want to learn. 
9) Select Basic Words and translate the following into Esperanto: Thank you; What is your name?; How are you?; I do not understand English.
10) Now select Shopping/Dining and translate the following into Esperanto: How much does this cost?; Do you accept credit cards?, Cheers!; I would like to buy dessert.
OPTIONAL: Experiment and have some fun on your own.  Do you ever envision a future with one universal language?  Why or why not?  What conditions would have to occur for this to become a reality?

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Some information adapted from Human Geography: Culture, Society, and Space Student Companion; H.J. de Blij and Alexander Murphy; John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; New York, 1999