Linguistics Vocab and Terminology Week 2 Flashcards
linguistic competence
The unconscious knowledge and understanding of language conventions that allows a speaker to understand a language.
linguistic performance
An individuals actual use of language in real world contexts.
performance error
A failure to use a language system correctly, despite having the knowledge to do so.
speech communication chain
Describes the stages in speech communication where a message moves from the mind of the speaker to the mind of the listener.
speech communication chain steps
- thought formation
- language processing
- sound production
- transmission
- hearing
- comprehension
noise
Any undesired sound that interferes with hearing.
lexicon
The complete set of meaningful units in a language.
mental grammar
The system that language speakers have in their minds that allows them to understand other language speakers.
language variation
The different linguistic features individual speakers may utilize while speaking the same language.
descriptive grammar
A set of grammatical rules and elements that describe how a language is actually used.
List 4 evidence that writing and language are not the same
- Language proficiency does not indicate literacy in a language.
- Writing skills require additional understanding of grammar beyond mental grammar.
- Oral languages can exist without written form.
- Languages can have several different writing systems concurrently.
List 3 reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech
- Writing often involves more structure and premeditation while speaking is more improvised.
- Oral speech is not recorded
- Writing requires a deeper knowledge of grammatical rules.
prescriptive grammar
A set of language rules that uphold the preferred usage of language.
prescribe
Advise the use of something.
Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list)
- mode of communication
- semanticity
- pragmatic function
- interchangeability
- cultural transmission
- arbitrariness
- discreetness
- displacement
- productivity
mode of communication
How a message is transmitted
semanticity
Specific signals that are tied to direct meanings.
pragmatic function
All signals in a language system serve a useful purpose.
interchangeability
A speaker can give and receive identical linguistic signals.
cultural transmission
The concept that parts of a language system are learned through social interaction.
arbitrariness
The form of a signal is not intrinsically tied to its meaning or function.
linguistic sign
Something that communicates a meaning or concept that is not the sign itself, ie knocking on a door.
convention
The accepted principles or norms that govern how a language is used in written and oral form.
non-arbitrariness
The form of a sign allows indicates a signs meaning or grammatical function.
iconic
The conceived similarity or connection between the form of a sign and its meaning.
onomatopoeia
A word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes.
conventionalized
Having the usage of something become normalized or expected.
sound symbolism
The perceptual similarity between speech sounds and the meaning it represents.
discreteness
Linguistic signs can be broken down into smaller units and combined with other signs in systematic ways. i.e. “s” making a word plural
displacement
The notion that language can describe things that are not physically present or do not exist.
productivity
Language systems can create an infinite number of new utterances with new meanings by combining already existing signs.
modality
The medium or format through which language is conveyed.
List 4 myths about signed languages
- All signed language is the same
- Signed languages have the same grammar and syntax rules
- There is a universal form of signed language
- Signed languages are less valuable than spoken langauges.
List 4 differences between codes and languages
- Language can express infinite ideas.
- Language evolves, while codes stay the same.
- Language has a wider variety of day-to-day applications.
- Language is universal and intuitive, while codes must be taught.
