Critical Thinking

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Chapter 5

Critical Thinking

Our Critical Thinking essays are designed with two objectives in mind:

to encourage a higher level of thinking and expression; and,
to investigate a problem and/or to resolve an issue using the Internet.

Furnish appropriate citations using an accepted citation format.

There are times when Internet sites may occasionally be unavailable, or may be reorganized. It is good practice to try the site at a different time before you assume it no longer exists. Early morning and late night are good times to access the Internet if you are having trouble downloading images. Also, certain sites are graphically intense, and may take awhile to view on your screen.

This activity contains 3 questions.

Your text presents two theories on the origin and diffusion of language. The debate over place of origin and paths of diffusion is significant, because one theory, the Kurgan origin, argues that language is diffused primarily through warfare and conquest. The second theory, that of Anatolia origin, believes that the sharing of food created language diffusion.

Using information from your text, the Internet, and any other sources of your choice, argue for one of these theories. Go to the GeoSearch page to find additional information. Be sure to cite your sources and URLs.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Every word that is not used nationally has some geographic extent within the country and therefore has boundaries. In most instances, these words relate to rural life, food, and objects from daily activities. Your text gives some examples of different words used in different regions to mean the same thing.

Present a list of words from your region that you believe is different from other regions. Give the meaning and pronunciation of each of these words, and its etiology. Additionally, if you can think of any words from your region that went national, please list them and give us some of the word's history.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Language can be a key to meaningful communication among persons or groups, or it can be a barrier to communication. In these days of ethnic pride and growing appreciation of minority groups, educators, government officials, and missionaries are realizing more than ever the importance of the first language or 'mother tongue' of the peoples of the world, the language through which communication is most effective.

Enter the Ethnologue, a catalogue of more than 6,700 languages spoken in 228 countries. The Ethnologue tries to bring together the best information available on the languages of the world. Entries represent separate languages or probable languages (highly divergent 'dialects') according to our best sources. Variants of the language that are not distinct enough to need separate literature are treated as dialects, and are listed under the language entry and not as separate entries, unless attitudes or other social factors are strong enough that they need to be treated as separate sociolinguistic entities. For many entries, however, we lack information on dialect intelligibility, and so have followed our best sources as to what they consider to be a language or a dialect.

First, read the introduction to this catalog so that you have some understanding of the diffusion of language in all its nuances. Then, return to the main page and click on various options, such as maps, languagues of special interest, geographic distribution of living languages, the top 100 languages by population, and the search button.

There are also two questionnaires you must complete: 1) a language typology questionnaire and 2) an environmental questionnaire. Submit one copy of each as directed on the form and cut and paste a copy of this information here.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

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