Module 1, Week 2: What is Language Flashcards
Linguistic Competence
The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language
Linguistic Performance
The way a language system is used in communication
Performance Error
Is a deviation (conscious or unconscious) from the apparently intended form of an utterance
Speech Communication Chain
How we exchange information using auditory/oral method to communicate
Speech Communication Chain Steps
- Sender has a thought, the thought must be encoded
- Selection of words - lexicon is inventory of words that represents your thoughts, you pull from it to form words/phrases and combine them
- Following Rules - use syntax to properly phrase thoughts
- Nerve Impulses - signals get transported through neural pathways to motor nerves
- Muscle Movements - nerves driving our vocal muscles to produce sound which then activates the lungs, moves tongue to articulate, the lips, the hand, and your face
- Sound Waves - when noise comes out you are producing sound waves
Noise
A sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance
Lexicon
The vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge
Mental Grammar
The generative grammar stored in the brain that allows a speaker to produce language that other speakers can understand
Language Variation
Refers to regional, social, or contextual differences in the ways that a particular language is used
Descriptive Grammar
A set of rules about language based on how it is actually used
Evidence that writing and language are not the same (list 4 reasons)
- Language is primarily spoken
- written language is an imperfect reflection of spoken language
- human society could have a fully functioning spoken language while, until a century ago, only a very few societies had a written language
- People everywhere start speaking during the first two years of life; many of the abilities involved are probably inborn rather than learned. Learning to write typically builds on learning to speak
Reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech (list 3 reasons)
- Writing can be edited
- Writing must be taught
- Writing is more physically stable
Prescriptive Grammar
A set of rules about language based on how people think language should be used. In a prescriptive grammar there is right and wrong language
Prescribe
Advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in writing
Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list)
- Vocal-auditory channel
- Interchangeability
- Total feedback
- Specialization
- Semanticity
- Transitoriness
- Broadcast transmission and directional reception
- Arbitrariness
- Learnability
Mode of Communication
Face-to-face, video, audio and text-based are all different modes of communication. These are the basic umbrella forms of communication, but they can be broken down into more specific styles
Semanticity
The quality that a linguistic system has of being able to convey meanings, in particular by reference to the world of physical reality
Pragmatic Function
Meaning and pragmatic function is a general heading under which terminology relating to the various areas of study of language use and interpretation is collected
Interchangeability
Can refer to Interchangeable parts, the ability to select components for assembly at random and fit them together within proper tolerances
Cultural Transmission
Cultural learning, also called cultural transmission, is the way a group of people or animals within a society or culture tend to learn and pass on information
Arbitrariness
The quality of being based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
Linguistic Sign
Is an abstract structure whose instances participate in a linguistic system, or language
Convention
A way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity
Nonarbitrariness
Not subject to individual determination
