While Analyzing What Is Spoken and Written Is Very Important

question 7

Essay

While analyzing what is spoken and written is very important for linguistic anthropologists, the way that people convey messages through gestures, facial expressions, and postures is equally crucial in understanding human communication. Discuss how anthropologists can decipher the meaning of communication through examining paralanguage and what is indicated through body language. Illustrate how body language is not universal but rather depends on cultural context, and provide two examples to show how emotional information is communicated.

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Definitions:

Atonia

A condition characterized by a lack of muscle strength or muscle tone, often occurring during sleep phases such as REM sleep.

Pertussis

Also known as whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease causing severe coughing fits and difficulty breathing.

Upper Frequencies

The higher range of frequencies or pitches, often associated with sounds or signals.

Lower Frequencies

Refers to the part of the spectrum that includes waves with relatively long wavelengths and, correspondingly, lower energy levels.