Module 1 Flashcards
What is Linguistics? And give some detail
The study of language (scientifically).
How it is used
How it is acquired
How it is represented in the brain
What are the five main branches of Linguistics?
Phonetics Phonology Morphology Syntax Semantics
what is the difference between language and Language?
languages: English, French etc
Language: the mental capacity of humans to understand a language
Do we learn language / grammar? And who answered this question?
Not really. Noam Chomsky said this.
What is UG?
Universal Grammar and it is innate
Does language acquisition occur automatically?
Yes
What does Language being innate mean?
Means the human mind has a mental capacity not a specific language
How are humans physically equipped for speech?
VIA our articulatory apparatus, which is biologically adapted to produce speech
What does the Vocal Tract consist of?
Pharynx
Oral cavity
Nasal cavity
Describe the Larynx
its the sound source (vocal folds are within the larynx)
Name the order of filters in the vocal tract (first second third)
Pharynx
Oral cavity
Nasal cavity
Draw the vocal tract cross section
damnit.
there are areas in the brain specialized for different what? And what are they?
linguistic functions.
Left hemi
Right hemisphere
The LEFT hemisphere, a specialized area in the brain, is responsible for what?
Language, reasoning, math, logic
The RIGHT hemisphere, a specialized area in the brain , is responsible for what?
Pattern matching, spatial abilities, process music (non-linguistic sound)
What is aphasia?
An acquired language disorder via brain dmg (ie:stroke)
Name two examples of Aphasia.
Broca’s Aphasia
Wernicke’s Aphasia
Describe Broca’s Aphasia and give an example
When non-fluent speech
IE: Tell me about this cookie? uh…uh… boy…cook…. cookie….took…uhh.uuh … cookie
Describe Wernicke’s Aphasia and give an exmaple
Non-sensical/meaningless speech.
IE: I know it’s you couldn’t say it’s … I couldn’t say what it is.
Language as an instinct can also be said as, Language is…
Biologically predetermined
How are humans biologically predetermined for language?
physically (articulatory apparatus)
Specialized areas in the brain for different linguistic functions
what is the job of a linguist?
to explain how the similarities and differences arise among different language
What does it mean to know a language?
to be able to produce and understand language - use it creatively and to recognize the not acceptable
What is created In English, when a wh-word is moved to the front of the sentence
a wh-question
Not being taught that there is a lot to each rule in the English is the effect of what?
The effect of UG on English syntax
What is Syntax?
The ways in which words are combined into sentences
Can attaching un to any verb have the same effect? and what meaning does happen when you do?
No it cannot
the un sometimes makes the verb have a meaning of reversing
IE: unzip
unclose
What is Phonology?
How sounds pattern together
What’s an example of Phonology
Knowing Blick and Bluck are not words but Black and Block are words
What is an entailment?
the relationship between two sentences where the truth of one requires the truth of the other
Define Phonetics
Knowledge of speech and sound. Ex: n vs. x as a first sound - exist vs. doesn’t exist (not taught)
Define Phonology
the knowledge about sound patterns
Define Morphology
Knowledge about word structure
IE: un-tied vs. un-opened
Define Syntax
Knowledge about sentence patterns
Define semantics
knowledge about sentence meaning
Define Prescriptive Grammar
a set of rules that prescribe how people should speak and write (proper English) (Explicit Knowledge)
Define Descriptive Grammar
A set of rules that describe how people actually do speak (Implicit knowledge)
What does descriptive grammar underlie?
the subconscious knowledge (competence) of native speakers and it is IMPLICITLY acquired
what are four things that prescriptive grammar / rule follows
need to consciously know it
must be told the rue to obey it
constitutes explicit knowledge
may choose not to obey it
what are three things that descriptive grammar / rule follows
Ppl are not aware of this process; happens automatically
Generally not able to disobey
Able to observe, describe and explain this process
Are you allowed to split infinitives?
No
Ie: to boldly go - Wrong
To go boldly - Correct
are you allowed to end a sentence with a preposition? But are there exceptions?
No and yes there are exceptions
ie: This is something you should go to - WRONG
This is something to which you should go - CORRECT
What’s the world coming to? EXCEPTION
Name three points about prescriptive grammar rules
Speakers must be told / taught these rules
Speakers may choose to disobey them
Obeying the rules can be inappropriate in certain social contexts
Are speakers aware of descriptive rules?
No. Ppl know them intuitively. Not part of explicit (conscious) knowledge but rather implicit (subconscious) knowledge (competence)
What do linguists do?
goal is to describe the rules that make language the way it is and discover what aspects of UG allow us to speak this way
Do linguists prescribe what patterns in language should be like? if not what do they do?
No they do not. They describe and explain the patterns observed in lanugage
How do linguists go about uncovering the structure of language?
Scientific method
Confirm a hypothesis
