Linguistics 211

Question 1

linguistic competence

Answer 1

What we know, when we know a language; the unconscious knowledge that a speaker has about his/her native language. ( see Linguistic Performance)

Question 2

linguistic performance

Answer 2

The observable use of language. The actualization of one’s linguistic competence.

Question 3

performance error

Answer 3

Errors in language production or comprehension, including hesitations and slips of the tongue. ( see also Linguistic Performance)

Question 4

speech communication chain

Answer 4

The process through which information is communicated , consisting of an information source, transmitter signal, receiver, and destination.

Question 5

speech communication chain steps

Answer 5

I. Think about what you want to communicate.

2. Pick out words to express the idea.
3. Put those words together in a certain order following rules.
4. Figure out how to pronounce these words.
5. Send those pronunciations to your vocal anatomy.
6. Speak: Send the sounds through the air.
7. Perceive: Listener hears the sounds.
8. Decode: Listener interprets sounds as language.
9. Connect : Listener receives communicated ideas.

Question 6

noise

Answer 6

Interference in the communication chain.

Question 7

lexicon

Answer 7

A mental repository of linguistic information about words and other lexical expressions, including their form, meaning, morphological, and syntactic properties. As a part of a descriptive, not mental, grammar, the lexicon is the representation of the mental lexicon, consisting of lexical entries that capture the relevant properties of lexical expressions ( e.g. their form and syntactic category)

Question 8

mental grammar

Answer 8

The mental representation of grammar. The knowledge that a speaker has about the linguistic units and rules of his native language.

Question 9

language variation

Answer 9

The property of languages having different ways to express the same meaning in different contexts according to factors such as geography, social class, gender,etc.

Question 10

descriptive grammar

Answer 10

Objective description of a speaker’s knowledge of a language ( competence) based on their use of the language (performance). ( see also Prescriptive Crammer).

Question 11

evidence that writing and language are not the same (list 4 reasons)

Answer 11

1. Writing does not exist everywhere that spoken language does.
2. Writing must be taught, whereas spoken language is acquire naturally.
3. Neurolinguistic evidence, ( studies of the brain “in action” during language use ) demonstrates that the processing and production of written language is overlaid on the spoken language centers in the brain. Spoken language involves several distinct areas of the brain; writing uses these areas and others as well.
4. Writing can be edited before it is shared with others in most cases, while speech is usually much more spontaneous.

Question 12

reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech (list 3 reasons)

Answer 12

1. Writing can be edited
2. Writing can be taught
3. Writing is more physically stable

Question 13

prescriptive grammar

Answer 13

A set of rules designed to give instruction regarding the socially embedded notion of the “ correct” or “proper” way to speak or write. ( See also Descriptive Grammar)

Question 14

prescribe

Answer 14

An advise and authorize the use of speaking or writing according to someone’s idea of what is “good” or bad.

Question 15

Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list)

Answer 15

1. Mode of Communication
2. Semanticity
3. Pragmatic Function
4. Interchangeability
5. Cultural Transmission
6. Arbitrariness
7. Discreteness
8. Displacement
9. Productivity

Question 16

mode of communication

Answer 16

Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system ( See also Design Features)

Question 17

semanticity

Answer 17

Property of having signals that convey a meaning, shared by all communication systems. ( See also Design Features).

Question 18

pragmatic function

Answer 18

The useful purpose of any given communication system. ( See also Design Features)

Question 19

interchangeability

Answer 19

The property of a communication system by which all individuals have the ability to both transmit and review messages ( as opposed to systems where some individuals can only send messages and others can only receive messages.)

Question 20

cultural transmission

Answer 20

Property of a communication system referring to the fact that at least some aspects of it are learned through interaction wit other users of the system. ( See also Design Features)

Question 21

arbitrariness

Answer 21

In relation to language, refer to the fact that a word’s meaning is not predictable form its linguistic form, nor is its form dictated by its menacing( see also, Design Features and Non-arbitrariness)

Question 22

linguistic sign

Answer 22

The combination of a linguistic form and meaning. ( See also Linguistic Expression).

Question 23

convention

Answer 23

Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice. When an arbitrary relationship of a linguistic sign and its meaning in conventionalized, the linguistic sign bears a constant relationship only because people consistency use that linguistic sign to convey that meaning.

Question 24

nonarbitrariness

Answer 24

Direct correspondence between the physical properties of a form and the meaning that the form refers to ( See also Arbitrary)

Question 25

iconic

Answer 25

Relationship between form and meaning such that the form of a word bears a resemblance to its meaning. ( See Arbitrary and Onomatopoeia.)

Question 26

onomatopoeia

Answer 26

Iconic use of words that are imitative of sounds occurring in nature or that have meaning that are dissociated with such sounds.

Question 27

conventionalized

Answer 27

Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice. When arbitrary relationship of linguistic sign and its meaning is conventionalized, the linguistic sign bears a constant relationship only because people consistently use that linguistic sign to convey that meaning.

Question 28

sound symbolism

Answer 28

Phenomenon by which certain sounds are evocative of a particular meaning.

Question 29

discreteness

Answer 29

The property of communication systems by which complex messages may be built up out of smaller parts ( see also Design Features)

Question 30

displacement

Answer 30

The property of some communication system that allows them to be used to communicate about things,actions, and ideas that are not present at the place or time where communication is taking place (see also Design Features)

Question 31

productivity

Answer 31

The capacity of a communications system ( unique to human language )for novel messages built out of discrete units to be produced and understood ( see also Design Feature)

Question 32

modality

Answer 32

Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system ( see also Design Features)

Question 33

myths about signed languages (list 4)

Answer 33

1.Sign languages derive from spoken languages, rather than being languages in their own right. 2.Sign languages do not have internal structure. 3.Words in a signed language are completely iconic. 4. There is only one sign language that is used by deaf speakers all over the world. .

Question 34

differences between codes and languages (list 4)

Answer 34

1. A code is an artificially constructed system for representing a natural language; it has no structure of its own but instead borrows its structure form the natural language it represents. 2. Codes never have native speakers because they are artificial systems. 3. Sign language evolves naturally and independently of spoken language. 4. Languages have native speakers; signed languages are learned natively by both hearing and deaf people all over the word.