chapter 2 - animals & human language Flashcards
define sociolinguistics
the study of all aspects of society on the way language is used, and in turn society’s effect on language development
what do species/animals use?
they use signs!
how was language originated?
there no definitive answer
when was language first spoken & written?
- spoken = 100, 000 - 50, 000 yrs
- written = 5,000 yrs
the language we speak emerged like 35, 000 yrs ago
what are the 2 natural sound source?
- bow-wow theory
2. pooh-pooh theory
what is the bow-wow theory?
- coined term = Max muller
- language as imitation of animal sounds
- first human language developed by the onomatopoeia
what is the pooh-pooh theory?
- language as emotional outburst
- that human language originated by emotional exclamations of pain, pleasure, surprise, etc.
what is the musical source?
- language as series of non-verbal charms
- music probs originated from vocal practice
what is social interaction source?
-language as to coordinate efforts
what is physical adaptation source?
- language as a driver/reflection of physicality
- theory that there’s a link between physical gesture & orally produced sounds
what is the tool making source?
-manual gestures as pre-cursors to language
what is the “lateralized” human brain?
- primitive tool-making leading to words
- brain function that performs by different parts of the brain that are responsible for controlling language, memories & making movement
what is the genetic source?
- language as process of infant development
- gene variants underlie individual language skills
- humans have a unique natural ability to develop highly complex linguistic systems — an ability that lies in our genes but is also shaped by our different environments.
what is innateness hypothesis?
-gene mutation leading to innate ability
when do children develop communicative competence?
-in earliest stages of speech development
who are the most important models that can teach babies how & when to speak?
parents/caregivers!
what is (CDL) ? child directed talk?
- often includes use of child’s name
- attention directed to current tasks
- use of full nouns
- adults consider it educational
what is the difference between humans & animals?
animals are driven ONLY by practical needs but humans use their IMAGINATION
what to humans have that animals don’t?
humans have the power of language & memory & therefore create culture!
language + society = ?
self.
who is Ferdinand de Saussure?
he is a Swiss linguist & he laid ideas for the languages in the 20th century
what is structuralism based on Ferdinand de Saussure?
- Saussure identified the relationship between the signifier & the signified is conventional and arbitrary
- he frames the linguistic structure & finds a system, mechanism in which a language works
what is the definition of signs?
signs have 2 parts
- a concept
- object that’s connected to the concept
what is an example of a sign and system?
- a pedestrian symbol = a sign because it tells you when to walk or not
- BECAUSE of the connection between the red (object) & stopping (concept)
- without that a red light would just be a red light…
what is arbitrariness according to Saussure?
- its the link between words & their meaning
- the link between that is “arbitrary”; accidental
- even in the cases where the sound mimics an animal sounds its still accidental
where is the emphasis between signs?
emphasis is to create meaning within bigger language system
what is Alex and Me?
- it’s about a scientist and a parrot
- they discovered hidden world of animal intelligence & formed deep bond in the process
according to michele bishop do animals have language?
- they have communication
- but not language exactly…
according to michele bishop what are the 4 qualities related to language?
- discreetness = individual units like sounds or words to communicate
- grammar
- productivity
- displacement
which fruits did Alex know how to say?
grape, cherry, and banana
why was Alex calling an apple “banerry” ?
because it looked like a cherry & tasted like an banana to him = lexical elision
