Languages and Worldview

Reviewed by Victor Valdivia, Assistant Professor, The George Washington University on 6/6/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book introduces several topics of the subject in a clear and concise manner. Although it would be useful to have an index, users can look for specific terms with the "find" option of Adobe Reader. A glossary would be useful since it would give students a central place to review the terms presented thorough the book.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

In general, the content is accurate and unbiased. Nevertheless, not making any reference to Ferdinand de Saussure when discussing the arbitrariness of symbols (section 2.2.2 Defining Verbal Communication) is not understandable.
Another issue that could affect students' reception of the textbook is the use of masculine nouns for generic referents. For instance, in section 2.1.2 (pages 16-17) when defining polychronic cultures, the author changes from the plural to singular from one sentence to the next one, and uses masculine pronouns. There is no apparent reason why this change which result on moving from an inclusive noun to one that may be perceived as exclusive: "Although polychrons can meet deadlines, they need to do so in their own way. A polychron does not want detailed plans imposed upon him, nor does he want to make his own detailed plans. Polychrons prefer “...‘" (page 17).
In section 2.1.5. (gesture) the author discusses a gesture used in "Spain and Latin America" to express a particular emotion. Stating "Latin America" rather than "in some countries of Latin America" conveys that the region is a monolith; thus perpetuating stereotypes.
Another mistake occurs in section 2.1.8 (Sign languages) when the author seem to suggest that the American Sign Language is used in Mexico when, in reality, the predominant language of the deaf community in Mexico is the Mexican Sign Language (Lengua Mexicana de Señas), which, according to Wikipedia, "is closely related to French Sign Language (LSF) and American Sign Language (ASL), although it is mutually unintelligible." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Sign_Language)
Finally, in section 2.2.5, the author states that descriptive linguistics is the study of the structures of language, when in reality descriptive and prescriptive approaches to language study such structures. Descriptive linguistics refers to an approach of linguistics analysis.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Being an introductory text which doesn't need to focus on specific theories addressing areas such as language acquisition, the content can present relevant content that will not be obsolete in the near future. If anything, the book could be updated in the future by adding sections related to new phenomena.

Clarity rating: 5

The content is presented in a clear and concise way with enough context and examples to understand complex terminology (e.g. diglossia).

Consistency rating: 4

The text is consistent in terms of terminology, but there is not an explicit indication, explanation or discussion of which framework is being used. Even though it can be inferred by terms as "descriptive linguistics" or "linguistic relativity" it may not be clear to students what are the premises of this framework nor what distinguishes from other ones.

Modularity rating: 5

In general, the organization of the chapters allows for a natural progression of the content, and for its presentation in smaller, yet comprehensible chunks.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Some topics (e.g pragmatics) are presented in different parts of a chapter or even in different parts of the books without a clear reason of why they were not presented as a whole in just one section or chapter. That is to say, there second time the concept is discussed does not really build upon the first time it was introduced, but it seems to present a different definition.

Interface rating: 5

All links included in the text worked well. There were no problems either using different tools to find specific pages or even words.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found in the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text uses examples from different languages and cultures.

Comments

The book would benefit from more activities (comprehension, discussion, research) for students.

Reviewed by Sharon Methvin, Instructor, Mt. Hood Community College on 7/7/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Text includes cross-cultural examples and verbal as well as nonverbal communication.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Sources are well documented and content is backed by credible anthropological sources.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This is the gem of the text. most Linguistic Anthropology texts are dry and not very useful for undergraduates. It is difficult to find a Linguistic Anthropology text that is meaningful, understandable, and interesting to undergraduate students, but this text has nailed it! .

Clarity rating: 5

Keeps the readers interest with day to day examples that students can relate to. Also, incorporates support from videos for our students now living in a visually stimulating environment.

Consistency rating: 5

One issue with some OER resources is the lack of consistency due to multiple authors. This text is consistent in style and content.

Modularity rating: 5

Easily broken into bite size modules and perfect for a quarter term.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I love the cross-cultural approach that ties each module into our discipline.

Interface rating: 4

Videos play easily. I would like to have seen more references to online websites and a greater use of graphs and images.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not see any errors that popped out for me.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This is a gem on incorporating a cross-cultural approach in a respectful manner.

Comments

It is difficult to find a Linguistic Anthropology text that is meaningful, understandable, and interesting to undergraduate students, but this text has nailed it! It is readable and practical, incorporating relevant cross-cultural examples and a discussion on non-human communication. A stellar discussion on nonverbal and digital forms of communication, along with video snippets to enhance student learning in today’s visually stimulated environment, rounds out an adoptable OER resource for undergraduate students.

Reviewed by Olubukola Salako, Professorial Lecturer, American University on 1/31/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is a gem for those who are not well versed in the field of linguistic. It uses terminology that is understandable and easy to follow. It is organized in a manner that allows the reader to relate to the examples mentioned in the book. Definitions are clear and concise. It makes use of videos, which is an asset for the reader.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Examples are given from previous studies, which substantiates the points made in the book. Additionally, examples are supported with videos. This gives the reader a better sense of comprehension that is not always clear by wordy definitions.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The contents in the book are currently relevant to this time frame. It makes use of common trends popular with language use in this era. The book also connects videos by a simple click. However, a problem may arise five years from now when new technologies are developed and the links to the videos are no longer available. Overall, using videos in a textbook is very creative and makes learning about languages enjoyable.

Clarity rating: 5

One major advantage about this book is the concise, simple, and organized definitions. One is able to read without any major difficulties. The language is simple and relatable for a novice learning about language, linguistics, and communication. The book is not complex and thus makes reading it easy to finish.

Consistency rating: 5

Throughout the book, there is considerable amount of consistency in how the book is arranged. The questions are posed at the end of each unit to help the reader retain knowledge about the points discussed in each section. The videos are also placed properly after definitions are discussed. The format is consistent with the design of the book.

Modularity rating: 5

A strong suit for this book is its organization. The reader can skip around and focus on one unit and return to another unit for clarification. The units allow the reader to focus his or her attention on particular parts for an in-depth study. This is especially useful for the reader if he or she wants to focus his or her attention on different units without reading the whole book.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is organized creatively. The organization of the book with videos makes the reading of the text interesting. The reader will not be bored reading this book. This book will work well for readers who are technology savvy and love the world of eBooks.

Interface rating: 5

The interface for this book is fascinating. It has videos, graphs, bolded definitions, and pictures. Although the topic can be quite difficult to understand in traditional books, in this case, this book is well organized in a way that makes reading it easy.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

In essence, the book explains and makes use of examples of cultural themes, motifs, and languages that influence the field of linguistics, communication, and language study. There are examples for the reader to use as a point of reference. This book will be a great asset for anyone who is interested in language learning.

Comments

I enjoyed reading this book. I especially enjoyed watching the videos in each unit of the book. This format is creative and innovative.