Vocabulary and Terminology Flashcards
linguistic competence
the ability to do something successfully or efficiently.
linguistic performance
the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
an individual’s use of a language.
performance error
an error that occurs when someone is tired, distracted, or hurried, and they make a mistake despite understanding what they’re supposed to do.
speech communication chain
The speech chain is a model that describes the process of communication from the time a speaker thinks a thought to when it is understood by a listener.
speech communication chain steps
a model that describes the steps of communication from the moment a speaker thinks a thought to when it is understood by a listener.
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 system of rules and principles that allow people to understand and produce language.
language variation
a way of expressing the same meaning or function in a language that differs from other ways of expressing that meaning.
descriptive grammar
a linguistic study of a language’s structure and rules as they are used in everyday life by speakers of all backgrounds.
evidence that writing and language are not the same
Different structures: spoken language often uses simpler sentence structures and relies heavily on context and non-verbal cues, whereas written language tends to be more formal and grammatically complex, requiring explicit clarification of meaning.
spontaneity vs. planning: Spoken language is usually spontaneous and can be adjusted on the fly, while writing requires more planning and revision to convey ideas effectively.
evolutionary timeline: Humans have spoken language for far longer than they have had writing systems, indicating that language is a fundamental human ability separate from the technology of writing.
different vocabulary usage: Written language may include more complex vocabulary or specialized terms that are not commonly used in everyday speech
reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech
thoughtful articulation: Writing forces individuals to carefully consider and structure their thoughts before expressing them, leading to a more refined and well-organized message compared to speaking off-the-cuff.
editing and revision: Unlike spoken words, written text can be easily edited and revised to ensure accuracy and clarity, removing unnecessary elements like filler words or redundancies.
complex ideas: When expressing complex concepts, writing allows for detailed explanations and nuanced arguments that may be challenging to convey solely through speech.
prescriptive grammar
a set of rules that define how language should be used, based on how people think it should be used.
prescribe
the process of specifying the socially preferred forms of a language, and the rules for how it should be used.
Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list) mode of communication
vocal-auditory channel, broadcast transmission and directional reception, transitoriness, interchangeability, total feedback, specialization, semanticity, arbitrariness, and displacement.
semanticity
the idea that language uses symbols to convey meaningful messages.
pragmatic function
the meaning a speaker intends to convey to the listener.
interchangeability
the ability of people to send and receive the same linguistic signals, allowing for the roles of speaker and listener to alternate in a conversation.
cultural transmission
the process of passing on language from one generation to another.
arbitrariness
the idea that the meaning of a word is not predictable from its form or sound.
linguistic sign
a combination of a signal and a signification that gives meaning to things so people can communicate.
convention
the rules that govern how people use language.
non-arbitrariness
the relationship between a word’s form and meaning, where aspects of the meaning can be predicted from the form.
iconic
the relationship between a sign’s form and its meaning, where the form resembles the meaning.
onomatopoeia
a linguistic device that involves words that sound like the things they describe.
conventionalized
something has become generally accepted and usual, or is done in a way that is generally accepted and usual.
sound symbolism
the idea that the sound of a word can be similar to its meaning.
discreteness
a feature of language that describes how each unit of communication is distinct and can be separated.
displacement
the ability of human language to communicate about things that are not present in the moment.
productivity
the ability to use language to create new things, such as words or phrases, using a limited set of words.
modality
a grammatical category that expresses a speaker or writer’s attitude towards the world, such as their opinion or judgment on a subject.
myths about signed languages
sign language is just gestures, sign language is universal, sign language is “English for your hands,” and A Deaf person’s family and friends are qualified to interpret for them in a medical setting.
differences between codes and languages
Purpose: Codes are used to convert information into a different form, while languages are used to communicate between people
input and output: Codes have finite input and output, while languages do not
Use in computers: Codes are used to provide instructions to computers, while programming languages are used to build computer-based technologies
Syntax: Code syntax is the strict structure of words and their order when giving instructions to a computer. Language syntax is the study of how words and phrases are arranged to form sentences
