Language and Linguistics; 3; Definition of Language

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Series
Language and Linguistics
Episode Number
3
Episode
Definition of Language
Producing Organization
Metropolitan Educational Television Association
University of Buffalo
Contributing Organization
Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
Thirteen WNET (New York, New York)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip-75-472v723d
NOLA Code
LALG
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Description
Episode Description
There is a relationship between language and culture, says Dr. Henry Lee Smith, Jr. He points out that there is no such thing as a "primitive" language; all languages have the same amount of history behind them. He reveals why all languages are about equally complex. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Series Description
Dr. Henry Lee Smith, Jr., of the University of Buffalo, presents an introduction to linguistics covering the nature of language, its structure and development. He conducts a comprehensive survey of what language really is, considering how it forms a basis for all human interaction. Dr. Smith shows the relation of linguistic science to teaching a foreign language, teaching reading and the analysis of the psychiatric interview. Dr. Henry Lee Smith, Jr., was a Professor of Linguistics and English and Chairman of the Department of Anthropology and Linguistics at the University of Buffalo. Dr. Smith graduated from Princeton in 1935 and received his Master of Arts degree in 1937. He completed the work for his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1938 and became a lecturer at Barnard College, Columbia that year. Between 1939 and 1941, he conducted the radio program Where Are You From?, and in 1940 joined the Brown University staff as an instructor of English. During World War II, as a Major in the U.S. Army, he was in charge of the Language section, and following the war he became director of the Language Department at the Army School Center. From here, he went to work for the Department of State as Dean of the School of Languages, Foreign Service Institute. In 1956, he joined the University of Buffalo faculty. He co-authored two books with George L. Trager: An Outline of English Structure and Linguistic Science and the Teaching of English. Production Organization: University of Buffalo. Production Agency: META New York. The 13 episodes that comprise this series each run about 30 minute. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Description
Dr. Henry Lee Smith, Jr., of the University of Buffalo, presents an introduction to linguistics covering the nature of language, its structure and development. He conducts a comprehensive survey of what language really is, considering how it forms a basis for all human interaction. Dr. Smith shows the relation of linguistic science to teaching a foreign language, teaching reading and the analysis of the psychiatric interview. There is a relationship between language and culture, says Dr. Henry Lee Smith, Jr. He points out that there is no such thing as a primitive language; all languages have the same amount of history behind them. He reveals why all languages are about equally complex.
Broadcast Date
1958
Asset type
Episode
Topics
Education
Rights
Published Work: This work was offered for sale and/or rent in 1960.
Media type
Moving Image
Duration
00:29:25:16
Credits
Producing Organization: Metropolitan Educational Television Association
Producing Organization: University of Buffalo
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive
Identifier: cpb-aacip-231e431023c (Filename)
Format: 16mm film
Library of Congress
Identifier: cpb-aacip-915a531388c (Filename)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
Thirteen - New York Public Media (WNET)
Identifier: cpb-aacip-8463a44006f (Filename)
Format: 16mm film
Duration: 00:29:08
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Citations
Chicago: “Language and Linguistics; 3; Definition of Language,” 1958, Library of Congress, Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed May 7, 2026, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-472v723d.
MLA: “Language and Linguistics; 3; Definition of Language.” 1958. Library of Congress, Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. May 7, 2026. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-472v723d>.
APA: Language and Linguistics; 3; Definition of Language. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-472v723d