For my research and reflection essay, I have chosen the Warlpiri. The Warlpiri are a cultural group comprised of approximately 3,000 individuals located in Northern Australia. The Warlpiri participate in a traditional lifestyle in which hunting and gathering is the preferred method of obtaining food. The majority of the Warlpiri also reside within extended family structures and chose to live and sleep outdoors (Bavin, 2012). I found the Warlpiri to be well-suited for this research question due to the various uses of language exhibited within the culture. The Warlpiri are known to speak both a verbal and nonverbal language. Through my research on the Warlpiri, I have developed an increased understanding of the use and acquisition of these languages
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Thus, many have mastered the grammar of the Warlpiri language and have gained basic conversational skills. At this age, many are also able to practice an integral feature of language: displacement. Displacement, an aspect of language explored within the lecture regarding communication, enables individuals to refer to events that occurred in the past or will occur in the future (Miller Wolf, 2004). Through the attainment of this knowledge, many adolescents are able to begin to use nouns, verbs, and suffixes. However, as children begin to experiment with these various aspects of language, their utterances are often unrecognizable. Rather than assist the child or attempt to interpret their skewed utterances, many adults simply ignore their children. This technique exemplifies the importance of independence within the Warlpiri community (Bavin, 2012). In many societies, an adult would correct their child and assist them in developing a better understanding of the language. Again, this likely appears to be unbeneficial to many Western societies. However, many Warlpiri believe that offering assistance creates a sense of dependence; a trait that is not assistive to the Warlpiri …show more content…
Men within the community do not appear to withhold any nonverbal knowledge. Adam Kendon relates this knowledge difference to the scenarios in which nonverbal language is utilized. Commonly, nonverbal language is utilized during the bereavement of a woman following the death of a husband. Thus, adolescents and men are not often exposed to this period of mourning in which nonverbal language is required. As a woman ages, it becomes her responsibility to acquire the knowledge needed to become fluent in nonverbal discourse (Kendon, 1984). This is similar to the child’s responsibility to acquire verbal language during adolescence. Thus, the importance of independence is emphasized through language acquisition even through
Thus, many have mastered the grammar of the Warlpiri language and have gained basic conversational skills. At this age, many are also able to practice an integral feature of language: displacement. Displacement, an aspect of language explored within the lecture regarding communication, enables individuals to refer to events that occurred in the past or will occur in the future (Miller Wolf, 2004). Through the attainment of this knowledge, many adolescents are able to begin to use nouns, verbs, and suffixes. However, as children begin to experiment with these various aspects of language, their utterances are often unrecognizable. Rather than assist the child or attempt to interpret their skewed utterances, many adults simply ignore their children. This technique exemplifies the importance of independence within the Warlpiri community (Bavin, 2012). In many societies, an adult would correct their child and assist them in developing a better understanding of the language. Again, this likely appears to be unbeneficial to many Western societies. However, many Warlpiri believe that offering assistance creates a sense of dependence; a trait that is not assistive to the Warlpiri …show more content…
Men within the community do not appear to withhold any nonverbal knowledge. Adam Kendon relates this knowledge difference to the scenarios in which nonverbal language is utilized. Commonly, nonverbal language is utilized during the bereavement of a woman following the death of a husband. Thus, adolescents and men are not often exposed to this period of mourning in which nonverbal language is required. As a woman ages, it becomes her responsibility to acquire the knowledge needed to become fluent in nonverbal discourse (Kendon, 1984). This is similar to the child’s responsibility to acquire verbal language during adolescence. Thus, the importance of independence is emphasized through language acquisition even through