Blog #1 : Frames of Reference

Intro

In this blog, I'll be exploring spatial frames of reference in linguistics, which are "frames" we use to communicate directions to objects in relation to us from our point-of-view or from a fixed point (such as a building). It's just a topic that I found to be interesting, and after doing something of a day's bit of research into it, I thought it would make a good first blog. As far as my sources, I did more reading than just the three sources I have cited, but for the purposes of this blog, I only paraphrased or directly quoted those listed. I cited a scholarly article called "Frames of Reference in Spatial Language Acquisition", which was very well researched; "What Is Linguistics?" from SIL Global to break down linguistics and connect it to frames of reference in simple terms; and I cited "#Literacytip: Spaces and Places" from Thompson-Nicola Regional Library because it was published from a Canadian library, which gives a slightly different point of view on frames of reference than traditional American ones might. Additionally, the latter source also provided information on how children develop frames linguistically.

What is Linguistics, first of all?    

    Linguistics is the study of language and the ability to communicate/organize thoughts. In simple words, linguistics is how language is formed, put together, and how it functions in communication ("What Is Linguistics?"). How words or expressions are arranged, how the meaning of words may be affected, and the sounds we use to achieve this. However, linguistics does not just comprise of only English, but all of the various languages people speak and use in the world, as well as hand signs. Suffice it to say, linguistics is a somewhat broad term referring to the general study of language, and there are a multitude of subsets and building blocks that make up "branches" of linguistics, such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax. It's a bit of information to take in, but today we'll just be discussing spatial frames of reference (FoRs). Let's jump in. 

Frames of references explained

    In the world of linguistics, spatial frames of references (FoRs) are basically directions or coordinates almost, primarily used to "describe the location" of an object in relation to another object. Long story short, FoRs breakdown the spatial relationship between two things (hey, my wallet is to the left of the TV). Of course, different languages use different types of frames. Sticking to English, however, frames are utilized as a "coordinate system", or reference, to another object. There are a few different types of frames, such as a relative frame, an intrinsic frame, and an absolute frame (Shusterman and Li). A relative frame is just describing an object's position based on whoever is speaking's point of view; e.g. "on my right." Meanwhile, an intrinsic frame describes an object's position based on its own features; e.g. "In front of the TV." Lastly, an absolute frame is used to describe an object's position based on fixed directions, meaning that of buildings or geographical locations; e.g. "South of the river" or "North of the building." 

    Thus, FoRs are a component of linguistics, but also constitute what has now been dubbed as "spatial literacy." Frames of reference consist of everyday words and descriptions we use quite commonly, but how do we learn the correct way to use these words? How do we know which way is left, which is right, and how do we tell North from South? That is all part of spatial literacy, our understanding and ability to be aware of and communicate the space around us effectively ("#Literacytip: Spaces and Places"). Naturally people develop the skills and ability to read, write, and speak typically as children, which is where we build the foundation to distinguish positions and locations using language. This, of course, goes beyond just linguistics, and is important in mathematics, writing, reading, communication, and in simply explaining/carrying out daily tasks. As we continue to develop, our spoken words or thoughts reflect a deeper understanding of spatial frames of reference. Instead of simply saying "head left" when telling someone where to drive, we might say "Head left of the river, the house should be the second on the right." It's a more descriptive and better frame of reference, allowing both the speaker and driver to locate the object based on those frames.

    Fig. 1 shows frames of references in terms of objects and geography, or geocentric (Shusterman and Li). Notably, the figure displays relative and intrinsic frames with the frame being described in regards to a speaker or fixed point (the ball being left of the cup). In summary, FoRs are just a system of coordinates and directions we use in thinking and communication to describe an object's location from a speaker or another object. 

Critical Analysis & Connections

Certainly, the most credible source is "Frames of Reference" by Shusterman and Li, because it's a scholarly academic article/essay which cited a multitude of different sources itself. There was great information on frames of references and some helpful visual elements, as well. While I read through a number of different articles and essays on FoRs, this one was the most educating. SIL Global's "What Is Linguistics?" just helped me explain linguistics simply to be able to make that connection to FoRs and why they are part of linguistics. This was a weaker source, but still reliable enough to utilize for this blog. Meanwhile, "#Literacytip: Spaces and Places" was easily the weakest and less reliable source, but I used it to describe how children form and consider frames of references. There wasn't a lot of information given, but enough to consider how development in children eventually aids them in creating spatial literacy and communicating FoRs. 

Personal Reflection

Being my first ever blog, I was a little nervous but spatial frames of references seemed like a manageable topic to explore. I didn't know anything about the actual concept of FoRs, other than I knew how to communicate simple directions easily and what simple meant. As a student, I was familiar with spatial literacy from a past English class I had taken this spring, which gave me a foundation to sort of bridge FoRs to. I was able to understand how frames utilize space to describe an object or focus's location better because of that. As a future teacher, frames of references makes an interesting concept to discuss linguistically, and I could inform students how everyday expressions, words, and directions we use easily are made from a system of communication. If nothing else, it's a topic not many people will probably consider or be aware of.

Citations

•  “#Literacytip: Spaces and Places- Learning Spatial Language.” Thompson-Nicola Regional Library, Kamloops Library, 8 July 2021, www.tnrl.ca/littip-spatial-language/.

• Shusterman, Anna, and Peggy Li. “Frames of Reference in Spatial Language Acquisition.” ScienceDirect, Cognitive Psychology, 15 July 2016, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010028516301190. 

• “What Is Linguistics?” SIL Global, 14 Feb. 2013, www.sil.org/linguistics/what-linguistics.