chapter 2 - animals & human language

Question 1

define sociolinguistics

Answer 1

the study of all aspects of society on the way language is used, and in turn society’s effect on language development

Question 2

what do species/animals use?

Answer 2

they use signs!

Question 3

how was language originated?

Answer 3

there no definitive answer

Question 4

when was language first spoken & written?

Answer 4

• spoken = 100, 000 - 50, 000 yrs
• written = 5,000 yrs

the language we speak emerged like 35, 000 yrs ago

Question 5

what are the 2 natural sound source?

Answer 5

1. bow-wow theory

2. pooh-pooh theory

Question 6

what is the bow-wow theory?

Answer 6

• coined term = Max muller
• language as imitation of animal sounds
• first human language developed by the onomatopoeia

Question 7

what is the pooh-pooh theory?

Answer 7

• language as emotional outburst

- that human language originated by emotional exclamations of pain, pleasure, surprise, etc.

Question 8

what is the musical source?

Answer 8

• language as series of non-verbal charms

- music probs originated from vocal practice

Question 9

what is social interaction source?

Answer 9

-language as to coordinate efforts

Question 10

what is physical adaptation source?

Answer 10

• language as a driver/reflection of physicality

- theory that there’s a link between physical gesture & orally produced sounds

Question 11

what is the tool making source?

Answer 11

-manual gestures as pre-cursors to language

Question 12

what is the “lateralized” human brain?

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

what is the genetic source?

Answer 13

• 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.

Question 14

what is innateness hypothesis?

Answer 14

-gene mutation leading to innate ability

Question 15

when do children develop communicative competence?

Answer 15

-in earliest stages of speech development

Question 16

who are the most important models that can teach babies how & when to speak?

Answer 16

parents/caregivers!

Question 17

what is (CDL) ? child directed talk?

Answer 17

• often includes use of child’s name
• attention directed to current tasks
• use of full nouns
• adults consider it educational

Question 18

what is the difference between humans & animals?

Answer 18

animals are driven ONLY by practical needs but humans use their IMAGINATION

Question 19

what to humans have that animals don’t?

Answer 19

humans have the power of language & memory & therefore create culture!

Question 20

language + society = ?

Answer 20

self.

Question 21

who is Ferdinand de Saussure?

Answer 21

he is a Swiss linguist & he laid ideas for the languages in the 20th century

Question 22

what is structuralism based on Ferdinand de Saussure?

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

what is the definition of signs?

Answer 23

signs have 2 parts

1. a concept
2. object that’s connected to the concept

Question 24

what is an example of a sign and system?

Answer 24

• 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…

Question 25

what is arbitrariness according to Saussure?

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

where is the emphasis between signs?

Answer 26

emphasis is to create meaning within bigger language system

Question 27

what is Alex and Me?

Answer 27

• it’s about a scientist and a parrot

- they discovered hidden world of animal intelligence & formed deep bond in the process

Question 28

according to michele bishop do animals have language?

Answer 28

• they have communication

- but not language exactly…

Question 29

according to michele bishop what are the 4 qualities related to language?

Answer 29

1. discreetness = individual units like sounds or words to communicate
2. grammar
3. productivity
4. displacement

Question 30

which fruits did Alex know how to say?

Answer 30

grape, cherry, and banana

Question 31

why was Alex calling an apple “banerry” ?

Answer 31

because it looked like a cherry & tasted like an banana to him = lexical elision