Linguistics Flashcards

1
Q

What are the key features of the language system in linguistics?

A

Language systems consist of hierarchical structures, automatic processing, and incremental understanding. These features help to structure and comprehend language in real-time as it enters the brain, whether through spoken or written form. Hierarchical structures are especially important in distinguishing between syntax and semantics, as seen in sentences that can be grammatically correct but semantically nonsensical (e.g., “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the levels of representation in linguistics?

A

The levels of representation in linguistics include:

Phonology (sounds and how they are produced),
Morphology (word formation),
Syntax (sentence structure),
Semantics (meaning),
Pragmatics (context and language use).
Each of these levels contributes to the overall understanding of language. Linguists often focus on one level, but all are interconnected. For example, understanding a sentence requires parsing its phonological components, structuring them into a syntactic framework, and interpreting their semantics​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are garden-path sentences and why are they significant?

A

Garden-path sentences are grammatically correct sentences that initially seem ungrammatical, leading the reader down a false syntactic interpretation. They highlight the brain’s automatic and incremental parsing of syntax, where early words mislead before the true structure becomes clear​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a spectrogram used for in linguistics?

A

A spectrogram visualizes sound by plotting time against frequency and showing the intensity of frequencies in speech. It’s used to analyze speech patterns, such as identifying phonemes based on frequency energy, and provides insight into speech perception​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How does prediction-based learning function in language processing?

A

In prediction-based learning, the brain incrementally processes linguistic input, predicting syntactic and semantic structures as it receives words. This predictive nature allows faster comprehension by hypothesizing possible sentence structures early in the input stream​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is Universal Grammar?

A

Universal Grammar is the theory proposed by Noam Chomsky, suggesting that all human languages share a common structural basis. The brain is thought to have an innate, universal set of grammatical rules that underlie all human languages​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis?

A

The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis, also known as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, posits that the structure of a language affects its speakers’ worldview and cognition. In essence, the way people think is influenced by the language they use​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What role does automaticity play in language processing?

A

Automaticity refers to the brain’s automatic activation of neural representations when exposed to language, even when you are not actively paying attention. For example, when you hear familiar sounds, words, or sentence structures, your brain automatically starts to process them, building syntax and semantics simultaneously without conscious effort​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does incremental processing of language work?

A

Incremental processing means the brain doesn’t wait until the entire sentence is heard before beginning to process it. As soon as the first word is received, the brain starts building both syntactic (sentence structure) and semantic (meaning) representations. This explains why early word choices can mislead the listener in garden-path sentences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are phonemes, and why are they important in linguistics?

A

Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that distinguish meaning. For example, the difference between the words “bat” and “pat” lies in their initial phonemes /b/ and /p/. Phonemes are categorized based on features like voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation, which are key in understanding speech perception and production​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the role of syntax in sentence comprehension?

A

Syntax refers to the rules that govern the structure of sentences, including word order and phrase hierarchy. Proper syntactic structure ensures that sentences make sense and can be understood. For example, “The cat sat on the mat” follows the subject-verb-object structure typical of English. Without syntax, meaning would be lost or confused​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do morphemes differ from phonemes?

A

Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, while phonemes are the smallest units of sound. For example, the word “cats” has two morphemes: “cat” (the base meaning) and “-s” (the plural marker). Phonemes, like /k/ in “cat,” do not carry meaning on their own but can distinguish between words​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is categorical perception in speech?

A

Categorical perception is the phenomenon where the brain categorizes speech sounds into distinct phonemic categories, such as distinguishing between /b/ and /p/. Even though the physical difference between these sounds may be minimal, the brain perceives them as completely different categories, aiding in faster language comprehension​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the interaction between syntax and semantics in sentence comprehension?

A

Syntax (sentence structure) and semantics (meaning) work together in sentence comprehension, but they can also create ambiguities. For example, in garden-path sentences like “The horse raced past the barn fell,” the brain initially misinterprets the structure because the expected syntactic and semantic patterns don’t align until the entire sentence is processed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the concept of incremental syntactic parsing?

A

Incremental syntactic parsing is the process where the brain begins constructing the syntactic structure of a sentence as each word is received, rather than waiting for the full sentence. This process can lead to temporary ambiguities or errors, as seen in garden-path sentences, but it allows for rapid language comprehension​

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the role of hierarchical structure in language?

A

Hierarchical structure refers to how smaller linguistic units (like phonemes and morphemes) are organized into larger structures (words, phrases, sentences). This structure is key to understanding complex sentences and is one of the distinguishing features of human language. Hierarchical structures allow for recursive rules, enabling us to create infinitely long or complex sentences​

17
Q

Disorders related to phonology

A

Phonology
Disorders: Dyslexia & Apraxia of Speech affects phonological development and production.
Dyslexia impairs the ability to map phonemes to written symbols
Apraxia disrupts planning the motor actions necessary to produce speech sounds.

18
Q

disorders related to semantics

A

Semantics
Disorders: Semantic Dementia specifically targets the ability to understand word meanings, gradually eroding semantic knowledge over time.
Schizophrenia, particularly with Formal Thought Disorder, impacts semantic cohesion in speech, causing disorganized and incoherent discourse.

19
Q

disorders related to syntax

A
  1. Syntax:
    Broca’s Aphasia disrupts the syntactic production of language, making it difficult to form grammatically correct sentences.
    Wernicke’s Aphasia impairs comprehension but allows fluent, though often nonsensical, speech. Syntax may remain intact in some cases but still produce meaningless sentences.
20
Q

disorders in language processing/acquisition

A
  1. Language Processing and Acquisition:
    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects the pragmatics of language, such as understanding social cues and figurative language and sometimes even phonological and syntactic aspects