Unit 1 (introduction) Flashcards
Linguistics
the study of language historically and currently, and how they work.
What are the 3 Axes of Study? (6)
Synchronic/Diachronic, Theoretical/Applied, and Contextual/Independent.
Synchronic
Stop time and examine the meaning of the present word.
Diachronic
Go back in time and compare the present word to how it was used in the past.
Theoretical
Studying universal aspects and frameworks.
Applied
Applying the theory, such as teaching it or using it.
Contextual
How language or a specific word/meaning fits into the world and society.
Independent
Analyzing the language or word discreetly or in an isolated manner.
What are the physiological components for capacity of language (speech organs)? (5)
Lungs, Vocal Folds (chords), tongue, teeth, nose.
What are the three aspects of capacity of language?
Physiological, Perceptive, Cognitive.
Language
A system of gestures, grammar, signs, sounds, symbols, and/or word that defines us as human.
Creativity
What allows us to express and understand new/novel ideas.
Grammar
intricate network of knowledge or a mental system that underlies our ability to use language.
What are the five components of grammar.
Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, and Semantics.
Phonetics
The articulation and perception of speech.
Phonology
Patters of speech sound.
Morphology
Word formation.
Syntax
Sentence structure.
Semantics
Interpretation of words and sentences.
What are the five features of grammar?
Generality, Universality, Parity, Mutability, and inaccessibility.
Generality
All languages have a grammar, although they may differ.
Parity
All grammars are equal (not one is better than the other).
Universality
All grammars have similarities.
Mutability
All grammars change over time.
Inaccessibility
Grammatical knowledge is subconscious.
Who is Ferdinand de Saussure
He established linguistics as a social science and created the grammatical system and started looking at language synchronically as it was mainly studied diachronically.
Prescriptive
Correcting language or saying how it should be and how to fix it.
Descriptive
the study/observation of language in both it’s past and current state (linguistics).
Purists
Individuals and organizations who believe that certain varieties of language are better than others.
Linguistic Competence
Allows us to determine the acceptability of language utterances.
Homo-sapiens
The species of modern humans.
