Language Flashcards
1
Q
Productivity
A
An infinite # of sentences are possible in any language.
2
Q
Regularity
A
systematic struc for all languages
- Absolute universal: syntax
3
Q
Competence
A
Knowledge of “the rules”
4
Q
Performance
A
Applying that knowledge when speaking or listening
5
Q
2 Theories of Language and Thought
A
- Linguistic Determinism: Language shapes the way we think and perceive (eskimo)
- Thought shapes language (Aristotle).
* Language arose as tool for communicating thought
6
Q
Statistical Language Universals
A
Features found in many languages of the world, but not necessarily in all
7
Q
Absolute universals
A
Features found in all true languages
8
Q
Arbitrariness
A
- No inherent connection b/t words (or pronunciation) and their meaning
- We need to learn these connections
9
Q
Flexibility
A
- We assign names to everything: objects, emotions, etc.
- We invent names for new objects.
- sometimes change the meanings of words
10
Q
Displacement
A
We can talk about things that happened in the past, and that will happen in the future.
11
Q
Interchangeability
A
All humans (i.e., males & females) can produce an infinite # of unique sentences
