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Kenneth Lee Pike (June 9, 1912 – December 31, 2000) was an American linguist and anthropologist. He was the originator of the theory of tagmemics, the coiner of the terms "emic" and "etic" and the developer of the constructed language Kalaba-X for use in teaching the theory and practice of translation.
Kenneth Lee Pike | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 9, 1912 Woodstock, Connecticut |
| Died | December 31, 2000 (aged 88) Dallas, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Tagmemics Emic and etic |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Gordon College and University of Michigan |
| Doctoral advisor | Charles C. Fries |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Linguist |
In addition, he was the First President of the Bible-translating organization Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), with which he was associated from 1935 until his death.
Life
Pike was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, and studied theology at Gordon College, graduating with a B.A. in 1933. He initially wanted to do missionary work in China. When this was denied him, he studied linguistics with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). He went to Mexico with SIL, learning Mixtec from native speakers there in 1935.
In 1937 Pike went to the University of Michigan, where he worked for his doctorate in linguistics under Charles C. Fries. His research involved living among the Mixtecs and developing a written system for the Mixtec language with his wife, Evelyn. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1942, Pike became the First President of the Summer Institute in Linguistics. Its main function was to produce translations of the Bible in unwritten languages, and in 1951 Pike published the Mixtec New Testament. He was the President of SIL International from 1942 to 1979.
As well as and in parallel with his role at SIL, Pike spent thirty years at the University of Michigan, during which time he served as chairman of its linguistics department, professor of linguistics, and director of its English Language Institute (he did pioneering work in the field of English language learning and teaching) and was later Professor Emeritus of the university.
Work
Pike is best known for his distinction between the emic and the etic. "Emic" (as in "phonemics") refers to the role of cultural and linguistic categories as understood from within the cultural or linguistic system that they are a part of, while "etic" (as in "phonetics") refers to the analytical study of those sounds grounded outside of the system itself. Pike argued that only native speakers are competent judges of emic descriptions, and are thus crucial in providing data for linguistic research, while investigators from outside the linguistic group apply scientific methods in the analysis of language, producing etic descriptions which are verifiable and reproducible. Pike himself carried out studies of indigenous languages in Australia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Ghana, Java, Mexico, Nepal, New Guinea, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Peru.
Pike developed his theory of tagmemics to help with the analysis of languages from Central and South America, by identifying (using both semantic and syntactic elements) strings of linguistic elements capable of playing a number of different roles.
Pike's approach to the study of language put him outside the circle of the "generative" movement begun by Noam Chomsky, a dominant linguist in the 20th century, since Pike believed that the structure of language should be studied in context, not just as single sentences, as seen in the title of his magnum opus, Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior (1967).
He became well known for his "monolingual demonstrations." He would stand before an audience, with a large number of chalkboards. A speaker of a language unknown to him would be brought in to work with Pike. Using gestures and objects, not asking questions in a language that the person might know, Pike would begin to analyze the language before the audience.
Honors
Pike was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Linguistic Society of America (LSA), the Linguistic Association of Canada and the United States (LACUS), and the American Anthropological Association. He served as president of LSA and LACUS and later was nominated for the Templeton Prize three years in a row.
When he was named to the Charles Carpenter Fries Professorship of Linguistics at the University of Michigan in 1974, the Dean's citation noted that "his lifelong originality and energetic activity verge on the legendary." Pike was awarded honorary degrees by a number of institutions, including Huntington College, University of Chicago, Georgetown University, L'Université Réné Descartes (Sorbonne), and Albert-Ludwig Universität. Though the Nobel Prize committee did not publicize nominations, in 1983 US Senator Alan J. Dixon and US Congressman Paul Simon announced that they had nominated Pike for the Nobel Peace Prize. Academic sponsors for his nomination included Charles F. Hockett, Sydney Lamb (Rice University), Gordon J. van Wylen (Hope College), Frank H. T. Rhodes (Cornell University), André Martinet (Sorbonne), David C.C. Li (National Taiwan Normal University), and Ming Liu (Chinese University of Hong Kong).
Bibliography
- See Complete list of Pike's publications (over 250)
- 1943: Phonetics, a Critical Analysis of Phonetic Theory and a Technique for the Practical Description of Sounds (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press)
- 1967: Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior. The Hague: Mouton. 1954 – via Internet Archive.
- 1970: Rhetoric: Discovery and Change, with Richard E. Young and Alton L. Becker (New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World)
See also
- Americanist phonetic notation § Pike
- Wycliffe Global Alliance
References
- Pike, Eunice (1981). Ken Pike: Scholar and Christian. Dallas, TX: Summer Institute of Linguistics. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-88312-920-5.
- David Crystal (2011). Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. Volume 30 of The Language Library. Edition 6. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781444356755
- Hildebrandt, Martha. 2003. "A Portrait of Kenneth L. Pike," in Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. (eds.) Mary Ruth Wise, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend. Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington, pp. 3-5.
- Hildebrandt, Martha. 2003. "A Portrait of Kenneth L. Pike," in Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. (eds.) Mary Ruth Wise, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend. Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington, pp. 5-9.
- Pike, Kenneth L. (1967). Language in Relations to a Unified Theory of Human Behavior (Second Revised ed.). The Hague: Mouton & Co. pp. 37–72.
- Headland, Thomas N. (2001). "Kenneth Lee Pike (1912–2000)". American Anthropologist. Vol. 103, no. 2. pp. 505–509.
- p. xiii. Jankowsky, Kurt R., ed. 1996. The Mystery of Culture Contacts, Historical Reconstruction, and Text Analysis: An Emic Approach. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.
- p. xiv, xv. Jankowsky, Kurt R., ed. 1996. The Mystery of Culture Contacts, Historical Reconstruction, and Text Analysis: An Emic Approach. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.
- p. 9-15. Adam Makai, ed., 1984. Languages for Peace. Lake Bluff, IL: Jupiter Press.
Further reading
- Brend, Ruth M. 1987. Kenneth Lee Pike Bibliography. Bloomington, IN: Eurasian Linguistics Association.
- , "Kenneth L. Pike", in Encyclopedia of Anthropology ed. H. James Birx (2006, SAGE Publications; ISBN 0-7619-3029-9)
- Headland, Thomas N. 2001. "Kenneth Lee Pike (1912-2000)." American Anthropologist 103(2): 505–509.
- Hildebrandt, Martha. 2003. "A Portrait of Kenneth L. Pike," in Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. (eds.) Mary Ruth Wise, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend. Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington, pp. 3–10.
- Pike, Eunice V. 1981. Ken Pike: Scholar and Christian. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.
- Makkai, Adam. Languages for Peace: Tribute to Kenneth L. Pike. 1985. Lake Bluff, IL: Jupiter Press.
- Wise, Mary Ruth, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend, (eds.) 2003. Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington.
External links
- www.sil.org/klp/ Biographical profile at SIL, with autobiographical essays by Pike
- Detailed chronology of Pike's life at SIL
- Langmaker profile of Kalaba-X
- Thomas N. Headland, "Kenneth Lee Pike", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences (2004)
- Language By Gesture, a televised 1966 example of one of Pike's "monolingual demonstrations"
- The Nature of Field Work in a Monolingual Setting, article that describes his method
- Pike's Phonetics at Archive.org
- Works by or about Kenneth Lee Pike at the Internet Archive
This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Kenneth Lee Pike June 9 1912 December 31 2000 was an American linguist and anthropologist He was the originator of the theory of tagmemics the coiner of the terms emic and etic and the developer of the constructed language Kalaba X for use in teaching the theory and practice of translation Kenneth Lee PikeBorn 1912 06 09 June 9 1912 Woodstock ConnecticutDiedDecember 31 2000 2000 12 31 aged 88 Dallas TexasNationalityAmericanKnown forTagmemics Emic and eticAcademic backgroundAlma materGordon College and University of MichiganDoctoral advisorCharles C FriesAcademic workDisciplineLinguist In addition he was the First President of the Bible translating organization Summer Institute of Linguistics SIL with which he was associated from 1935 until his death LifePike was born in Woodstock Connecticut and studied theology at Gordon College graduating with a B A in 1933 He initially wanted to do missionary work in China When this was denied him he studied linguistics with the Summer Institute of Linguistics SIL He went to Mexico with SIL learning Mixtec from native speakers there in 1935 In 1937 Pike went to the University of Michigan where he worked for his doctorate in linguistics under Charles C Fries His research involved living among the Mixtecs and developing a written system for the Mixtec language with his wife Evelyn After receiving his Ph D in 1942 Pike became the First President of the Summer Institute in Linguistics Its main function was to produce translations of the Bible in unwritten languages and in 1951 Pike published the Mixtec New Testament He was the President of SIL International from 1942 to 1979 As well as and in parallel with his role at SIL Pike spent thirty years at the University of Michigan during which time he served as chairman of its linguistics department professor of linguistics and director of its English Language Institute he did pioneering work in the field of English language learning and teaching and was later Professor Emeritus of the university WorkPike is best known for his distinction between the emic and the etic Emic as in phonemics refers to the role of cultural and linguistic categories as understood from within the cultural or linguistic system that they are a part of while etic as in phonetics refers to the analytical study of those sounds grounded outside of the system itself Pike argued that only native speakers are competent judges of emic descriptions and are thus crucial in providing data for linguistic research while investigators from outside the linguistic group apply scientific methods in the analysis of language producing etic descriptions which are verifiable and reproducible Pike himself carried out studies of indigenous languages in Australia Bolivia Ecuador Ghana Java Mexico Nepal New Guinea Nigeria the Philippines and Peru Pike developed his theory of tagmemics to help with the analysis of languages from Central and South America by identifying using both semantic and syntactic elements strings of linguistic elements capable of playing a number of different roles Pike s approach to the study of language put him outside the circle of the generative movement begun by Noam Chomsky a dominant linguist in the 20th century since Pike believed that the structure of language should be studied in context not just as single sentences as seen in the title of his magnum opus Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior 1967 He became well known for his monolingual demonstrations He would stand before an audience with a large number of chalkboards A speaker of a language unknown to him would be brought in to work with Pike Using gestures and objects not asking questions in a language that the person might know Pike would begin to analyze the language before the audience HonorsPike was a member of the National Academy of Sciences the Linguistic Society of America LSA the Linguistic Association of Canada and the United States LACUS and the American Anthropological Association He served as president of LSA and LACUS and later was nominated for the Templeton Prize three years in a row When he was named to the Charles Carpenter Fries Professorship of Linguistics at the University of Michigan in 1974 the Dean s citation noted that his lifelong originality and energetic activity verge on the legendary Pike was awarded honorary degrees by a number of institutions including Huntington College University of Chicago Georgetown University L Universite Rene Descartes Sorbonne and Albert Ludwig Universitat Though the Nobel Prize committee did not publicize nominations in 1983 US Senator Alan J Dixon and US Congressman Paul Simon announced that they had nominated Pike for the Nobel Peace Prize Academic sponsors for his nomination included Charles F Hockett Sydney Lamb Rice University Gordon J van Wylen Hope College Frank H T Rhodes Cornell University Andre Martinet Sorbonne David C C Li National Taiwan Normal University and Ming Liu Chinese University of Hong Kong BibliographySee Complete list of Pike s publications over 250 1943 Phonetics a Critical Analysis of Phonetic Theory and a Technique for the Practical Description of Sounds Ann Arbor University of Michigan Press 1967 Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior The Hague Mouton 1954 via Internet Archive 1970 Rhetoric Discovery and Change with Richard E Young and Alton L Becker New York Harcourt Brace amp World See alsoAmericanist phonetic notation Pike Wycliffe Global AllianceReferencesPike Eunice 1981 Ken Pike Scholar and Christian Dallas TX Summer Institute of Linguistics pp 14 15 ISBN 0 88312 920 5 David Crystal 2011 Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics Volume 30 of The Language Library Edition 6 John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 9781444356755 Hildebrandt Martha 2003 A Portrait of Kenneth L Pike in Language and Life Essays in Memory of Kenneth L Pike eds Mary Ruth Wise Thomas N Headland and Ruth M Brend Arlington University of Texas at Arlington pp 3 5 Hildebrandt Martha 2003 A Portrait of Kenneth L Pike in Language and Life Essays in Memory of Kenneth L Pike eds Mary Ruth Wise Thomas N Headland and Ruth M Brend Arlington University of Texas at Arlington pp 5 9 Pike Kenneth L 1967 Language in Relations to a Unified Theory of Human Behavior Second Revised ed The Hague Mouton amp Co pp 37 72 Headland Thomas N 2001 Kenneth Lee Pike 1912 2000 American Anthropologist Vol 103 no 2 pp 505 509 p xiii Jankowsky Kurt R ed 1996 The Mystery of Culture Contacts Historical Reconstruction and Text Analysis An Emic Approach Washington DC Georgetown University Press p xiv xv Jankowsky Kurt R ed 1996 The Mystery of Culture Contacts Historical Reconstruction and Text Analysis An Emic Approach Washington DC Georgetown University Press p 9 15 Adam Makai ed 1984 Languages for Peace Lake Bluff IL Jupiter Press Further readingBrend Ruth M 1987 Kenneth Lee Pike Bibliography Bloomington IN Eurasian Linguistics Association Kenneth L Pike in Encyclopedia of Anthropology ed H James Birx 2006 SAGE Publications ISBN 0 7619 3029 9 Headland Thomas N 2001 Kenneth Lee Pike 1912 2000 American Anthropologist 103 2 505 509 Hildebrandt Martha 2003 A Portrait of Kenneth L Pike in Language and Life Essays in Memory of Kenneth L Pike eds Mary Ruth Wise Thomas N Headland and Ruth M Brend Arlington University of Texas at Arlington pp 3 10 Pike Eunice V 1981 Ken Pike Scholar and Christian Dallas Summer Institute of Linguistics Makkai Adam Languages for Peace Tribute to Kenneth L Pike 1985 Lake Bluff IL Jupiter Press Wise Mary Ruth Thomas N Headland and Ruth M Brend eds 2003 Language and Life Essays in Memory of Kenneth L Pike Arlington University of Texas at Arlington External linkswww sil org klp Biographical profile at SIL with autobiographical essays by Pike Detailed chronology of Pike s life at SIL Langmaker profile of Kalaba X Thomas N Headland Kenneth Lee Pike Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences 2004 Language By Gesture a televised 1966 example of one of Pike s monolingual demonstrations The Nature of Field Work in a Monolingual Setting article that describes his method Pike s Phonetics at Archive org Works by or about Kenneth Lee Pike at the Internet Archive
