Language

I did this experiment with the 10 and 1/2 year old girl that I nanny. She was excited to help me with my homework. (It is still a new concept to them that I am in school and do homework just like they do.) We completed it over the course of making dinner together.

Part 1:

I found this experiment to be quite tricky. I had to catch myself numerous times to keep from speaking. I did a lot of pointing and gesturing. The message that I was trying to make did not always get understood. There were a couple moments when Emma asked me specific questions that could not be answered with hand gestures. I would just shrug my shoulders and chose to answer them later. (One of those was as she was stirring milk in a pan on the stove “why does milk not turn sour when you cook it.”) While I was unable to speak I found that Emma chose to speak more-just because. When I asked her about it afterwards she stated “it was too quiet! I felt like I had to fill the silence.” I found that very interesting and aware of her, being that she is only 10. I believe that the partner/culture that has spoken language is the advantaged one. They have the ability to express a wide range of ideas whereas the culture without language can only observe and point. The non-speaking culture could be looked at as less intelligent since they cannot express their thoughts and ideas in an accurate way. In our culture people who have language disabilities that affect how they speak have a harder time being seen as “smart” because they are harder to understand. I have a friend who stutters when she speaks. Even though she is very intelligent, when she speaks aloud people don’t necessarily see that because they get caught up on her stuttering. She has been passed over for jobs because of her speech disability. 

Part 2:

We were able to go the full 15 minutes, but I did mess-up a few times and forget. I was amazed at how much I use my hands while speaking. I was even more surprised by the amount of facial expressions that I use during conversation. They were both very difficult to not use. My partner thought this was pretty funny and continuously commented that “this is really hard for you, isn’t it?” She would also make funny faces to see if she could get me to laugh. (Ahhh, kids....) Emma also commented that I “looked funny” during this part. This experiment demonstrates how vital hand gestures and facial expressions are to the process of communication. Without them we “look funny” and, I expect, are harder to understand. To get the whole picture while communicating, one must look at the body language as well as listen to the speech. I feel also that intonation is one of the key factors in expressing yourself in conversation. Without it, the partner looses the meaning and emotion behind the words. These physical signs are just as vital to communication as the speech is. For those people who cannot read body language (those with autism or aspergers) they miss out on a wealth of information and often make social mistakes because of it. Those people who possess the ability to read body language and facial expressions can gauge the communication more effectively. They can read the emotion behind the words which will allow them to make a more accurate response, leading to more effective back-and-forth communication. I cannot think of any environments where not reading body language would be a benefit. That is like saying having less knowledge is a benefit, since ignoring body language is ignoring information that is directed at you during communication. 

Part 3:

The first part of the experiment would have been much easier had we been able to write. I would have been able to answer Emma’s more specific questions. This part of the experiment made me realize how much information I convey through talking while with the children and not being able to speak negatively impacted the type of interactions that we have. Written language allows information to be spread more widely across the population allowing better access to knowledge. The population as a whole is better informed and educated when they are literate, able to make informed choices for themselves. Written language, especially in the form of mass media such as the internet, has allowed knowledge and ideas to spread to previously isolated people. Those people who can read and write have greater potential for improving their economic level, and are better able to provide for their families. Written language is another tool in passing on knowledge. 

I chose to do this experiment with a child for several reasons. Most of my time is spent in the company of children, so finding time to conduct the experiment was much easier if I could do it with them. I also thought that it would be interesting because as humans we learn to communicate in childhood. That is the time when we learn how to speak, read, write and gauge body language. Childhood is the formation of who we become as adults and how we interact with the world around us. 

The Zulu and the Aymara/Quechua

Zulu

The Zulu people of the Natal province of South Africa have a long history in the area known as the "cradle of mankind."

They live in a climate that is defined as warm sub-tropical for the majority of the year. Summers are hot and humid, averaging 75-86 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures average 68 F in the day and 52 F during the nights. It is not uncommon for winter daytime temps to reach the mid 80's F though. Summers are the main wet season, but rain can occur year-round. The majority of the year, hot days with high humidity levels are to be expected.

A physical adaptation that the Zulu have developed over time has been longer appendages, arms and legs, to help with keeping their core temperatures cool in the hot weather. (See Allen's Rule.) The added surface area allows heat to leave the body through radiation, keeping the internal temperature at a lower level.

A cultural adaptation that the Zulu have developed is wearing a minimal amount of clothing, or clothing that is light or thin to assist in keeping the body cool in the hot weather. The women below are demonstrating both.

I would describe their race as "Black." I chose this definition because of their dark skin pigmentation and dark eyes.


Andean Indians (Aymara and Quechua)


The Andean highlands of Peru and Bolivia were the heart of the great Inca Empire. I am focusing on the Aymara and Quechua tribes as they were the main ones in the Cusco (Cuzco) area of Peru, which was the capital of the Incan Empire.

The city of Cusco is located at an elevation of 11,600ft in altitude. (This is compared to the sacred city of Machu Picchu which is approximately 7500ft in altitude.) Year round high temperatures average in the mid 60's (Fahrenheit) while nighttime low's average in the low 40's. The rainy season is in the summer-which is December through April. Temperatures can change quickly depending on wind, clouds and rain.

A physical adaptation that the ancestors of the Andean Indigenous populations have passed on is their short, and stocky stature. This helps them to retain heat, especially at night, when it can be quite cold in the high mountains. This can be seen in the photo below of the women, especially when compared with the llamas they are standing beside.

A cultural adaptation that the people of the Andean highlands have utilized is their choice in clothes. They dress in layers that can easily be removed or added as the weather changes. The use of head coverings is very common by these people.

I would identify this group's race as being "American Indian." (I base this on the definition used by the US Census Bureau that includes all indigenous people of Northern, Central and South America.) Physically identifying traits include their dark hair, dark eyes and medium toned pigmentation.


Adaptation Vs. Race


I believe that an anthropologist would be able to get more information from studying the different adaptations of a population compared to the narrow definitions that constitute the idea of race. The description of race looks at visible, physical traits. In looking at adaptations, an anthropologist will be able to get a broader amount of information, not just about how they physically look, but at how their culture exists in its current environment. If genetic studies take place, a wealth of information can be learned in how their bodies have physically adapted to the environment that may not be visible on the outside.  For the Zulu I defined their race as "Black," but this does not address the physical or cultural adaptations that I identified. Identifying the Andean Indians as "American Indian" also leaves out the adaptations that they have made or gone through for their environment. Studying how they have adapted can lead to insight into the culture, and influence what questions the anthropologist might ask in their research.


Sources:

http://www.zulu.org.za/index.php?districthome+29++57984
http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/zulu_tribe.html
http://www.everything-zulu.com/index.html
http://www.ladatco.com/CUZ-bsc.HTM
http://www.native-languages.org/home.htm#list
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294314-s208/Cusco:Peru:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,COI,MRGI,COUNTRYPROF,BOL,,4954ce15c,0.html
http://anthro.palomar.edu/adapt/adapt_2.htm
www.census.gov/schools/pdf/2010form_info.pdf

The Nacerima

Ritualistic: I would describe The Nacerima as a people with intense rituals, especially when related to the natural workings of their bodies. They have a large variety of ceremonies surrounding different aspects of their health and appearance. "The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Incarcerated in such a body, man's only hope is to avert these characteristics through the use of ritual and ceremony."

Modest: The Nacerima appear to be a modest people since the majority of their body rituals are done behind closed doors in private. "While each family has at least one such shrine, the rituals associated with it are not family ceremonies but are private and secret. The rites are normally only discussed with children, and then only during the period when they are being initiated into these mysteries." They only give up the timidity surrounding bodily functions when absolutely necessary, such as when ill or debilitated. "In everyday life the Nacerima avoids exposure of his body and its natural functions."

Unquestioning: The way the Nacerima are trusting of the different "medicine men" that they consult demonstrates that they do not appear to question or challenge those with what they see as authority. They accept the advice, even though it is sometimes painful, from the individuals that they see as powerful. "The extremely sacred and traditional character of the rite (mouth rite) is evident in the fact that the natives return to the holy-mouth-men year after year, despite the fact that their teeth continue to decay."

Assiduous: This word was picked because the Nacerima endure painful and not always successful procedures under the rationale of maintaining their health. They persevere with the potions and solutions that are specified by their "medicine men." They also cling devotedly to their customs that are supposed to improve their outward appearance, even if an outsider may not understand its purpose. There is "a distinctive part of the daily body ritual which is performed only by men. This part of the rite includes scraping and lacerating the surface of the face with a sharp instrument."

Valetudinarian: This word was chosen because from an outside perspective it would appear that this group is unduly concerned about their health, which is the definition of the word. It seems that even with the constant procedures, the population is not satisfied and is relentlessly looking for the next approach. "It is hard to understand how they have managed to exist so long under the burdens which they have imposed upon themselves." They are dedicated but not necessarily triumphant in their manner.


Part B of the Nacirema (or The American):


Before I answer the needed questions I am going to define certain terms which will determine how I answer those questions....(These definitions are from the New Oxford American Dictionary.)

bias: prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person or group.

prejudice: preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience.

judgment: an opinion or conclusion


1. As an American I don't have positive or negative feelings in regards to the words that I chose. I have to admit that I knew that the article was about the American culture, so I did have that in the back of my mind when I chose the words that I did. Knowing that may have subconsciously altered the words that were ultimately chosen, although I did try to be aware of that.

2. I don't believe that I used any words that demonstrate blatant ethnocentrism in the study of the culture. According to the above definitions though, any opinion or conclusion could be considered a judgment. Because descriptive words are, in a way, opinions in how the single anthropologist views the culture being studied, all of the words could then be determined to contain judgments. I think that the word that leaves the most open for cultural interpretation would be "modest." It is a subjective word and modest can be determined differently by different cultures.

3. I feel that the word "private" may have been a better, more accurate, word instead of "modest." Looking back I think it explains the point I was trying to make in a more precise way.

4. In looking at this I don't believe that it is possible to completely avoid personal cultural bias as an Anthropologist studying the culture of a different people. One's culture is so deeply ingrained into a person's being that there is not a way to completely separate from it. Culture influences a person's perspective on nearly everything in their life, whether they realize it or not. It is pervasive into one's thoughts, feelings, ideas and even emotions. If the Anthropologist is aware of their own culture though and how it has influenced their world-view, then they are more likely to be able to study a new culture with an open mind. Having that awareness can go a long way in reducing the impact of their own cultural influence on how they view the subject of their research. I think that avoiding ethnocentric judgments will allow the research culture to be studied for what it actually is for those who live in it without the anthropologist putting their opinion on it. This is important because more information about the culture can be acquired without preconceived notions hindering the research process.

Me!

I just wanted to give a little introduction into who I am. My name is Natalie and I am a 36 year old re-entry student. I have returned to college to take classes for a career change. I am taking this class because it is a requirement for a Masters in Nursing which I am slowly pursuing, but I am also very interested in the subject of Anthropology. I look forward to studying it! I work a FT as well as a PT job as a Nanny/ Household Manager/ Personal Assistant. The next 8 weeks will be dedicated to the classes that I am taking, but when I do have free time I love trying new activities, traveling, working out, training for marathons and occasionally jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.