The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology [Paperback]

Harriet Joseph Ottenheimer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0534594360 | ISBN-13: 978-0534594367 | Publication Date: April 11, 2005 | Edition: 1

This text provides an introduction to the field of linguistic anthropology, which appeals to undergraduates from a wide variety of fields and at a wide variety of levels, from freshmen to seniors. This text comes with access to a companion website designed to make the intersection of linguistics and anthropology accessible and interesting to undergraduate students. In addition to THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF LANGUAGE, Harriet Ottenheimer has also creating a workbook/reader that is a perfect bundle option for this text. See the supplement section for details.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In many ways it is the text I have always wanted for my course, and includes every major topic in linguistic anthropology that I usually present. In my opinion, the greatest strength of the book is that is is specifically written with the students in mind. Also, the book is sufficiently current and research based, while not containing material that is superfluous, dated, or misleading for undergraduate students."

"The strength of the text (its absolute charm) is the extraordinarily personal approach of the author. Students will feel that they know this person. The various encounters described provide ample evidence that one "does" anthropological linguistics in every interpersonal encounter, ever communication situation."

About the Author

Harriet Joseph Ottenheimer, professor emeritus of anthropology at Kansas State University, received a B.A. at Bennington College and a Ph.D. at Tulane University. She has taught linguistic anthropology for over 30 years. Her research interests include music, language, and other creative and performative expressions, particularly in African American and African cultures. In addition to extended periods of field research in New Orleans and the Comoro Islands, Dr. Ottenheimer has traveled and lectured widely throughout many other parts of the world. She has special interests in blues, autobiography, transcription, dictionary construction, fieldwork ethics, and ethnicity. Among her publications are COUSIN JOE: BLUES FROM NEW ORLEANS (with Pleasant “Cousin Joe” Joseph), a blues singer’s autobiography; THE HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF THE COMORO ISLANDS (with Martin Ottenheimer), an encyclopedia; Music OF THE COMORO ISLANDS: DOMONI (also with Martin Ottenheimer), in vinyl, cassette, and CD formats; and SHINZWANI-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-SHINZWANI DICTIONARY, a bilingual, bidirectional dictionary. She has taught at the University of New Orleans, at Charles University in Prague (on a visiting Fulbright appointment), and at Kansas State University. At KSU she was the founding director of the interdisciplinary American Ethnic Studies Program, teaching introductory and advanced courses in that program, as well as in cultural and linguistic anthropology. Dr. Ottenheimer has received the Kansas State University President’s Award for Distinguished Service to Minority Education, and the Charles Irby Award for Distinguished Service to the National Association for Ethnic Studies. She has served as president of the National Association for Ethnic Studies and the Central States Anthropological Association. She speaks five languages, including English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Shinzwani, and she is attempting to learn to speak and read Czech.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 1 edition (April 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534594360
• ISBN-13: 978-0534594367
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, August 1, 2010

By 

Mai Kuha - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (Paperback)

The content is substantial, well organized, and visually appealing. The author does an outstanding job in connecting the material to real-life issues.

For use as a textbook, ideally it should have more exercises and questions for students. The "student activities" section at the end of each chapter merely points the reader to the companion workbook, which admittedly has some great stuff, but too often the exercises in it are just "go to these websites and write an essay about them".

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, October 21, 2011

By 

Rianna - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (Paperback)

This book is great, easy to read and involving. I knew nothing about linguistics or anthropology and started reading this book for a class, and I can't put it down. I look forward to my homework. The book tells consepts then explains them with stories and definitions. this helps with learning, interest and remembering.

4.0 out of 5 stars Anthropology of Language, August 20, 2011

By 

Bromor (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (Paperback)

This book was required for my Anthropology of Language and Culture class. While it was a tad dry at times, it has solid examples and was overall helpful to my learning process. If it is required for a class definitely purchase this book without hesitation. Also if you're interested in the Anthropology of Language this book will be VERY interesting to you, as it was to me. A safe buy to say the least!