Lang Concepts

Question 1

Semantic vs Syntax

Def + e.g

Answer 1

Syntax = Rules used to put words together in a sentence

Sentence = NP + VP
noun + descips , verb >=1 , obj verb acts on
e.g The boy kicked the ball.

Semantics = the study of meaning in a lang

e.g The honest umbrella is in the garage.

makes no fucking sense means yk semantics

Question 2

Phonemes and Morphemes (definitions and examples).

Answer 2

A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound which is significant in a language, shortest segment of speech that, if changed,
changes the meaning of the word

sounds – if these change, the meaning of the word changes.
eg cat change /c/ to /b/ becomes bat

Morphemes: smallest unit of language that has meaning or grammatical
function

e.g =

Truck – Phonemes put together to give meaning – word
 Bedroom - two syllables and two morphemes
 endings such as “s” and “ed,” have no meanings in themselves, they are
considered morphemes because they change the meaning
eg ‘s’ changes cat to cats – plural form and has different meaning
 Morphemes can be words, prefixes (beginning) or suffixes (end)

Question 3

o Word Superiority Effect and Word Frequency Effect.

Answer 3

Context and meaning help us to perceive written words (as well as spoken
letters)
 Seen in the Word Superiority Effect
The word superiority effect shows that letters in words are not
processed one by one but that each letter is affected by the
context
Letters are recognized more easily when they appear in a word
than when they appear alone or in non-word
Non – word = follows the rules of following the sounds of a word, but
it has no meaning and makes no sense

 Word frequency effect
 We understand words quicker when we are exposed to them more
 Respond more rapidly to high-frequency (familiar words) words than low
frequency words
 This is studied through the lexical decision task
 Participants are asked to read stimuli and decide whether they are words
or non-words
 familiar words are recognised more easily/rapidly than unfamiliar ones

Question 4

o The concept of language being innate.

Answer 4

 Language is innate – coded in genes
Universal human ability – all humans develop language.

 Not the same language, but all have the innate ability to create and learn
language

During childhood lang is learnt fast

There are hardwired universal grammer rules

Question 5

o Five universal language characteristics.

Answer 5

 All have nouns, verbs, negatives, questions, past/present tense

 System of communication using sounds or symbols

 Expresses feelings,
thoughts, ideas, and experiences

 Sets of rules about sentences

 Universal human ability – all humans develop language.