Understanding Cultures through Their Key Words : English, Russian, Polish, German, and Japanese
This book develops the dual themes that languages can differ widely in their vocabularies, and are also sensitive indices to the cultures to which they belong. Wierzbicka seeks to demonstrate that every language has ""key concepts, "" expressed in ""key words, "" which reflect the core values of a given culture. She shows that cultures can be revealingly studied, compared, and explained to outsiders through their key concepts, and that the analytical framework necessary for this purpose is provided by the ""natural semantic metalanguage, "" based on lexical universals, that the author and colleag
1 online resource (296 pages).
9780195358490, 019535849X
1055144143
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgments
Contents
1. Introduction
1. Cultural analysis and linguistic semantics
2. Words and cultures
3. Different words, different ways of thinking?
4. Cultural elaboration and the lexicon
5. Word frequencies and cultures
6. Key words and core cultural values
7. "Culture"-a perilous idea?
8. Linguistic and conceptual universals
9. "Natural semantic metalanguage": Exit from Babel
10. Conclusion
2. Lexicon as a Key to Ethno-Sociology and Cultural Psychology: Patterns of "Friendship" Across Cultures. 1. "Friendship"-a human universal?
2. The changing meaning of the English word friend
3. Patterns of "friendship" in Russian culture
4. Patterns of "friendship" in Polish culture
5. Mate-a key to Australian culture
6. Conclusion
Appendix: Summary of the Formulae
3. Lexicon as a Key to Ethno-Philosophy, History, and Politics: "Freedom" in Latin, English, Russian, and Polish
1. 'Freedom'-a culture-specific concept
2. Libertas
3. Freedom
4. Liberty
5. The older meaning of freedom
6. Svoboda
7. Volja
8. Wolność
9. Conclusion. Appendix: Summary of the Formulae
4. Lexicon as a Key to History, Nation, and Society: "Homeland" and "Fatherland" in German, Polish, and Russian
1. Different "homelands," different "patriotisms"
2. Heimat
3. Vaterland
4. Ojczyzna
5. Rodina
6. Conclusion
Appendix: Summary of the Formulae
5. Australian Key Words and Core Cultural Values
1. "Australian culture"
2. Australian speech act verbs
3. Australian "b-words" (swearwords)
4. Conclusion
Appendix: Summary of the Formulae
6. Japanese Key Words and Core Cultural Values. 1. How "unique" is Japanese culture?
2. Amae
3. Enryo
4. Wa
5. On
6. Giri
7. Seishin
8. Omoiyari
9. Conclusion
Appendix: Summary of the Formulae
Notes
References
Index