Linguistic Anthropology theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and Humanities in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.

Linguistic anthropology is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to the study of language from an anthropological perspective. This means that, over the years, linguistic anthropologists have regarded language as a sophisticated sign system that contributes to the constitution of society and the reproduction of specific cultural practices. In addition to being a powerful tool for exchanging information, language has been shown to play a crucial role in the classification of experience, the identification of people, things, ideas, and emotions, the recounting of the past and the imagining of the future that is so critical for joint activities and problem solving. The Theme on Linguistic Anthropology discusses essential aspects such as History of Linguistic Anthropology; Language Socialization; Languages in Contact; Comparative and Historical Linguistics; Language and Culture; Social Use of Language (Sociolinguistics); Language and Gender; Multilingualism and Language Planning; Language and Education; Non-Human Primates and Communication; Ape Language Studies; Language, Cognition and Thought; Language Shift and Maintenance; Gesture as Cultural and Linguistic Practice; Linguistic Relativity and Spatial Language; Documenting Endangered Languages and Maintaining Language Diversity.

This volume is aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.

Editor(s) Biography

Anita Sujoldzic, Institute for Anthropological Research, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. From 2004 to present. Scientific Advisor, Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb