Language Questions and Terms

Question 1

How is language creative?

Answer 1

Language is creative in that is allows a great deal of freedom but has at the same time definite constraints. These constraints establish the boundaries within which creativity may occur.

Question 2

What is linguistic competence?

Answer 2

The subconscious knowledge that a speaker acquires that enables them to distinguish between acceptable and impossible utterances, as well as to be able to product and understand an unlimited number of both familiar and novel utterances.

Question 3

What is the difference between prescriptive and descriptive grammars?

Answer 3

A prescriptive grammar gives the socially accepted rules for language use, while a descrptive grammar is an objective description of the knowledge that native speakers share. Descriptive grammars are learned implicitly, Prescriptive grammars are learned in school.

Question 4

Inaccessibility

Answer 4

refers to the concept that linguistic knowledge is subconscious.

Question 5

Mutability

Answer 5

grammars change over time

Question 6

Parity

Answer 6

all grammars are equal - there are no primitive grammars.

Question 7

Universality

Answer 7

Languages are alike in basic ways, e.g. all can make negatives and questions.