Imprisoned In English: The Hazards Of English As A Default Language University Press Scholarship Online

In __Imprisoned in English__, Anna Wierzbicka argues that in the present English-dominated world, millions of people - including academics, lawyers, diplomats, and writers - can become "prisoners of English", unable to think outside English. In particular, social sciences and the humanities are now increasingly locked in a conceptual framework grounded in English. To most scholars in these fields, treating English as a default language seems a natural thing to do.The book's approach is interdisciplinary, and its themes range over areas of central interest to anthropology, psychology, and sociology, among others. The linguistic material is drawn from languages of America, Australia, the Pacific, South-East Asia and Europe. Wierzbicka argues that it is time for human sciences to take advantage of English as a global lingua franca while at the same time transcending the limitations of the historically-shaped conceptual vocabulary of English. And she shows how this can be done. In Imprisoned In English, Anna Wierzbicka Argues That In The Present English-dominated World, Millions Of People - Including Academics, Lawyers, Diplomats, And Writers - Can Become Prisoners Of English, Unable To Think Outside English. In Particular, Social Sciences And The Humanities Are Now Increasingly Locked In A Conceptual Framework Grounded In English. To Most Scholars In These Fields, Treating English As A Default Language Seems A Natural Thing To Do. The Book's Approach Is Interdisciplinary, And Its Themes Range Over Areas Of Central Interest To Anthropology, Psychology, And Sociology, Among Others. The Linguistic Material Is Drawn From Languages Of America, Australia, The Pacific, South-east Asia And Europe. Wierzbicka Argues That It Is Time For Human Sciences To Take Advantage Of English As A Global Lingua Franca While At The Same Time Transcending The Limitations Of The Historically-shaped Conceptual Vocabulary Of English. And She Shows How This Can Be Done. Recognizing The Contingency Of One's Own Language -- Naming The World Or Construing The World? -- The Givens Of Human Life -- Universal Words, Semantic Atoms And Semantic Molecules -- Human Bodies And Human Minds: What Is Visible And What Is Invisible -- Anglo Values Vs. Human Values: Talking About Values In A Global World -- Human Emotions And English Words: Are Anger And Disgust Universal? -- Taking To Other People: Politeness And Cultural Scripts -- Doing Things With Other People: Cooperation, Interaction And Obščenie -- Grammar And Social Cognition: The Hawaiians, The Dalabons, And The Anglos -- Thinking About Things In Yucatec And In English -- Endangered Languages, Endangered Meanings -- Chimpanzees And The Evolution Of Human Cognition -- From Ordinary (anglo) English To Minimal English -- Anthropology, Psychology, Psychiatry -- Philosophy, Theology, Politics -- Linguistics: Cognitive And Cultural Approaches -- Bilingualism, Life Writing, Translation. Anna Wierzbicka. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Imprisoned in English 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 Acknowledgments 10 PART ONE Every Language Draws a Circle ... 16 1. Recognizing the Contingency of One’s Own Language 18 2. Naming the World or Construing the World? 27 3. The Givens of Human Life 34 4. Universal Words, Semantic Atoms and Semantic Molecules 46 5. Human Bodies and Human Minds: What is Visible and What is Invisible 55 PART TWO Emotions and Values 68 6. Anglo Values vs. Human Values: Talking about Values in a Global World 70 7. Human Emotions and English Words: Are Anger and Disgust Universal? 83 PART THREE “Politeness” and “Cooperation” 102 8. Talking to Other People: “Politeness” and Cultural Scripts 104 9. Doing Things with Other People: “Cooperation,” “Interaction” and “Obšcenie” 116 PART FOUR Entering Other Minds 132 10. Grammar and Social Cognition: The Hawaiians, the Dalabons, and the Anglos 134 11. Thinking about “Things” in Yucatec and in English 144 12. Endangered Languages, Endangered Meanings 152 13. Chimpanzees and the Evolution of Human Cognition 171 PART FIVE Breaking Down the Walls of the Prison 198 14. From Ordinary (Anglo) English to Minimal English 200 PART SIX Kindred Thinking Across Disciplines 212 Preliminary Remarks 212 15. Anthropology, Psychology, Psychiatry 214 16. Philosophy, Theology, Politics 230 17. Linguistics: Cognitive and Cultural Approaches 239 18. Bilingualism, Life Writing, Translation 248 Final Remarks 258 Notes 264 References 268 Index 290 Imprisoned In English Argues That In The Present English-dominated World, Social Sciences And The Humanities Are Locked In A Conceptual Framework Grounded In English And That Scholars Need To Break Away From This Framework To Reach A More Universal, Culture-independent Perspective On Things Human.