vocab & terms #1

Question 1

linguistic competence

Answer 1

What we know when we know a language; the unconscious knowledge that a speaker has about her or his native language

Question 2

linguistic performance

Answer 2

The observable use of language

Question 3

performance error

Answer 3

Errors in language production or comprehension, including hesitations and slips of the tongue

Question 4

speech communication chain

Answer 4

The process through which information is communicated, Consisting of an information source, transmitter, signal, receiver, and destination

Question 5

speech communication chain steps

Answer 5

1. think of what you want to communicate
2. pick out words to express the idea
3. put these words together in a certain order following rules
4. figure out how to pronounce these words
5. send those pronounciations to your vocal anatomy
6. speak-send the sounds through the air
7. percieve-listener hears the sounds
8. decode-listener interprets sounds as language
9. connect-listener receives communicated idea

Question 6

lexicon

Answer 6

Mental repository of linguistic information about the words and other lexical expressions, Including form and meaning in their morphological and syntactic properties

Question 7

mental grammar

Answer 7

Mental representation of grammar, the knowledge to speaker has about linguistic units in his native language

Question 8

language variation

Answer 8

Property of languages having different ways to express the same meanings in different contexts according to factors such as geography, social class, gender, Etc.

Question 9

descriptive grammar

Answer 9

Objective description of a speakers or a group of speakers knowledge of a language based on the use of language

Question 10

prescriptive grammar

Answer 10

A set of rules designed to give instructions regarding the socially embedded notion of the correct proper way to speak or write

Question 11

evidence that writing and language are not the same (list 4 reasons)

Answer 11

1. writing doesn’t exist everywhere
2. writing must be taught
3. language is acquired naturally
4. writing can be edited

Question 12

reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech (list 3 reasons)

Answer 12

1. writing can be edited
2. writing is more physically stable
3. writing must be taught

Question 13

pragmatic function

Answer 13

The useful purpose of any given communication system

Question 14

prescribe

Answer 14

Rules served only to mold your spoken and written English to some norm

Question 15

Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list)

Answer 15

• mode of communication
• semanticity
• pragmatic function
• interchangeability
• cultural transmission
• arbitrariness
• discretenes
• displacement
• productivity

Question 16

arbitrariness

Answer 16

In relation to language, refers to the fact that a words meaning is not predictable from its linguistic form, nor is it’s form dictated by its meaning

Question 17

linguistic sign

Answer 17

Combination of a linguistic form and meaning

Question 18

convention

Answer 18

Something that is established commonly agreed on, or Operating in a certain way of according to common practice

Question 19

nonarbitrariness

Answer 19

Direct correspondence between the physical properties of a form and the meaning that the form refers to

Question 20

cultural transmission

Answer 20

Property of a communication system referring to the fact that at least some aspects of it are learned through interaction with other users of the system

Question 21

onomatopoeia

Answer 21

Iconic use of words that are imitative sounds occurring in nature or that has meanings that are associated with such sounds

Question 22

conventionalized

Answer 22

Something that is established commonly agreed upon, For operating in a certain way according to common practice.

Question 23

sound symbolism

Answer 23

Phenomenon by which certain sounds are evocative of a particular meaning

Question 24

discreteness

Answer 24

Property of communication systems by which complex messages may be built up out of smaller parts

Question 25

displacement

Answer 25

Property of some communication systems that allows them to be used to communicate about things, Actions, and ideas that were not present at the place or time where communication is taking place

Question 26

productivity

Answer 26

Capacity of a communication system for novel messages built out of discrete units to be produced and understood

Question 27

modality

Answer 27

Means through which a message transmitted for any given communication system

Question 28

myths about signed languages (list 4)

Answer 28

1. Signed languages derived from spoken languages, rather than being languages in their own right
2. Signed languages are manual codes
3. Signed languages are pantomime, is that there is only one signed language that is used by deaf speakers all over the world
4. Signed languages are completely iconic

Question 29

differences between codes and languages (list 4)

Answer 29

1. Codes are artificially constructed
2. Language is naturally acquired
3. Language has structure
4. Differences in word order

Question 30

iconic

Answer 30

Describes a relationship between form and meaning such that the form of a word bears a resemblance to make meaning

Question 31

noise

Answer 31

Interference in the communication chain

Question 32

mode of communication

Answer 32

Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system

Question 33

semanticity

Answer 33

Properties of having signals that convey a meaning, shared by all communication systems

Question 34

interchangeability

Answer 34

Property of a communication system by which all individuals have the ability to both transmit and review messages