Language Flashcards
What is language?
A system of symbols, sounds, meanings and rules of combination that allows for communication among humans.
What is bilingual?
To be able to speak another language with approximately equal facility to ones native language.
What did the Whorfian hypothesis of linguistic relativity argue?
Argued that language shapes thought.
The theory suggests that even what people think is constrained by the words that they posses.
Why has the Whorfian hypothesis of linguistic relativity been somewhat disproved?
Because certain constructs (such as color) have been found to be universal whether or not people have words for them or not.
What is a phoneme?
the smallest unit of sound that are strung together to create meaningful speech.
What us a morpheme?
to be meaningful the smallest units of sound (phonemes) must be strung together to create a morpheme. The smallest units of meaning in language. pillow, horse, the, pre-, -ing.
What is a phrase?
Morphemes are combined into phrases, groups of words that act as a unit and convey meaning.
What is a sentence?
Words and phrases are combined into sentences, organized sequences of words that express a thought or intention.
What is a syntax?
the rules that govern the placement of words and phrases in sentences.
What is grammar?
A system for generating acceptable language utterances and identifying unacceptable ones. Grammar includes syntax.
What are semantics?
the rules that govern the meanings rather than order of morphemes, words, phrases and sentences.
How do people mentally represent discourse at multiple levels?
Exact wording
Gist or general meaning
Suspended reality (different time or place)
Communication (story telling and idea sharing)
Conversation.
What are pragmatics?
the way language is used and understood in everyday life.
What are some ways of non verbal communication?
Vocal intonation Body language Gestures Physical distance Facial expressions Touch Non verbal vocalizations (throat clearing).
What did Skinner argue?
Children imitate utterances of their parents.
He argued that children receive differential reinforcement for speech sounds. (positive reinforcement and shaping).
NURTURE.
What did Chomsky argue?
That language acquisition is universal across all cultures.
Children learn complex grammatical rules long before they develop other mental processes such as mathematics.
NATURE.
What does the critical periods theory assume?
Assumes that an organism must develop a function within a limited time frame or it will not develop at all.
Children easily learn second languages whilst adults have great difficulty.
What is babbling?
The child’s first recognizable speech sounds.
What is telegraphic speech?
Utterances composed of only the most essential words for meaning.
