Terminology Flashcards
1
Q
mental grammar (or linguistic competence)
A
- subconscious set of grammatical rules stored in our brain
- allows speaker to produce language that other speakers can understand
2
Q
when you are a (native) speaker of a language…
A
- you know the sounds of that language and which sound combinations are possible
- are aware of words and word combinations and whether certain combinations of words are or are not possible
- know which strings of words are meaningful constructions
3
Q
language acquisition
A
- natural, unconscious process of language development in humans
- occurs without explicit instruction
4
Q
design features of human language
A
- semanticity
- arbitrariness
- discreteness
- displacement
- productivity
5
Q
semanticity
A
words and phrases have meaning
6
Q
arbitrariness
A
- no connection between the form of a signal and its meaning
ex. cat’ can be expressed as ‘chat’ in French, ‘neko’ in Japanese, and ‘kot’ in Russian
7
Q
discreteness
A
- language signals are made up of smaller, basic units that can be combined in varying order to represent a new meaning
8
Q
displacement
A
- Language enables speakers to talk about things that are not immediately present
- are able to produce utterances that refer to the past, present, and future
9
Q
productivity
A
Language speakers can produce and understand an infinite number of new utterances
10
Q
grammar (in linguistics context)
A
complex mental system of “rules” that exists in the head of native speakers
11
Q
5 main components of mental grammar
A
- Phonetics: perception and articulation of speech sounds
- Phonology: sound combinations
- Morphology: structure of words
- Syntax: sentence structure
- Semantics: meaning and the interpretation of sentences
12
Q
register
A
- aka style
- manner of speaking or writing; often used with a particular group of people
- varieties of language that are used in very particular social settings
- ie. formal vs informal
13
Q
prescriptive grammar
(traditional grammar)
A
- aims to prescribe how language should be spoken
- believe in an absolute standard of correctness
- version of English considered appropriate for use by educated speakers or other individuals with authority
- ow you should speak and how you shouldn’t speak
14
Q
descriptive grammar
A
- set of rules or statements based on how people actually use a language
- does not value utterances as better or worse
- descriptive rules tell us what speakers do and don’t do
15
Q
standard language
A
- variety of any given language spoken by the most powerful group in a community
- often considered correct or ideal by prescriptive grammarians
