III Flashcards
What are call systems & how do they differ from human language?
- call systems: limited sounds, context specific, vary intensity and duration, no combo
- language: system of random symbols
Difference between phoneme and morpheme & examples?
phoneme: sound contrast that makes a difference b, p, f, v, b
craw/claw in japan
vat/bat spanish
minimal pairs: pit/bit
morpheme: sound that conveys meaning, “un” and “ing”
cat has 2 (cat or multiple)
happy birthday has 3
What is syntax?
sentence structure
Difference between Noam Chompsky’s idea of universal grammar and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
universal grammar: similar thought process for language, all have common structural basis (creole language)
Sapir-Whorf: linguistic relativity, language creates different ways of thinking (Hopi & time, exist vs. existed)
A. Describe development of pidgin language into Creole form.
B. When & why do such changes take place?
pidgin: acculturation during colonization or trade
creole: mature, primary language after enculturation (gullah)
How does lexicon of a language influence the perceptions of people participating in a particular culture?
lexicon: vocabulary, morphemes and meanings
- relation to other words, expressions, sentences
What is the field of sociolinguistics?
relationship between society & language
-regional, gender, class, under-class
How does gender and class help to influence how language is used?
- change/difference in language equals same in culture
- diglossia: different dialects of language, high/low according to social rank (slang)
- japanese women fake high voice, feminine/masculine
Define speech communities.
share language rules/patterns (law office)
Define productivity.
use language to produce new word/expression (chimps)
Define displacement.
communication w/o direct stimuli (chimps)
Define ape language research.
sign language, joking, lying
Define language origins.
combining call systems
Define prevarication.
lying
Define semantics.
meaning system
