The natural ecology of language

Definition

• Language exists in a natural ecology: this approach investigates how language relates to the biological and ecosystemic surroundings (topography, climate, fauna, flora, etc.). Steffensen and Fill (2014: 7)
• The ecology of language is a framework for the study of language conceptualised primarily in Einar Haugen’s (1906-1994) work The ecology of language (1971/1972). • language ecology “the study of interactions between any given language and its environment”.
  • Climate change?
  • Ecosystemic Linguistics is an approach developed by the Brazilian ecolinguist Hildo Honório do Couto (2018). According to this approach, the linguist should be an ecologist who studies language phenomena rather than just applying the Penz and Fill ecology metaphor to language. Language is viewed as a process of interaction that consists of the following three types: person-person interaction (communication), person-environment interaction (reference), and structural interaction (grammar).

Related linguistic fields

Possible research questions