Vocabulary and Terminology Flashcards
Linguistic competence
What we know when we know a language; the unconscious knowledge that a speaker has about her or his native language
Linguistic performance
The observable use of language; actualization of one’s linguistic competence
Performance error
Errors in language production or comprehension, including hesitations and slips of the tongue
Speech communication chain
The process through which information is communicated, consisting of an information source, transmitter, signal, receiver, and destination
Speech communication chain steps
- Information source; 2. Transmitter; 3. Signal; 4. Receiver; and 5. Destination
Noise
Interference in the communication chain
Lexicon
A mental repository of linguistic information about words and other lexical expressions, including their form, meaning, morphological, and syntactic properties
Mental grammar
The mental representation of grammar; the knowledge that a speaker has about the linguistic units and rules of his native language
Language variation
The property of languages having different ways to express the same meanings in different contexts according to factors such as geography, social class, gender, etc.
Descriptive grammar
Objective description of a speaker’s knowledge of a language based on their use of the language
Evidence that writing and language are not the same
- Spoken language exists everywhere, but writing does not; 2. You learn spoken language naturally, whereas you must teach someone writing; 3. Spoken language cannot be edited, once it is said, you cannot take it back, whereas writing can be changed before others see it; 4. Writing was developed before spoken language was developed
Reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech
- Writing encodes spoken language into a physically preservable form; 2. Writing is more physically stable; and 3. Writing can be edited.
Prescriptive grammar
A set of rules designed to give instructions regarding the socially embedded notion of the “correct” or “proper” way to speak or write
Prescribe
To lay down as a rule or course of action to be followed
Charles Hockett’s nine design features
- Mode of communication; 2. Semanticity; 3. Pragmatic function; 4. Interchangeability; 5. Cultural transmission; 6. Arbitrariness; 7. Discreteness; 8. Displacement; and 9. Productivity
Mode of communication
Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system
Semanticity
Property of having signals that convey a meaning, shared by all communication systems
Pragmatic function
The useful purpose of any given communication system
Interchangeability
The property of a communication system by which all individuals have the ability to both transmit and review messages
Cultural tranmission
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
Arbitrariness
In relation to language, refers to the fact that a word’s meaning is not predictable from it linguistic form, nor is its form dictated by its meaning
Linguistic sign
The combination of linguistic form and meaning
Convention
Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice
Nonarbitrariness
Direct correspondence between the physical properties of a form and the meaning that the form refers to
Iconic
Relationship between form and meaning such that the form of a word bears a resemblance to its meaning
Onomatopia
Iconic use of words that are imitative of sounds occurring in nature or that have meanings that are associated with such sounds
Conventionalized
Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice
Sound symbolism
Phenomenon by which certain sounds are evocative of a particular meaning
Discreteness
The property of communication systems by which complex messages may be built up out of smaller parts
Displacement
The property of some communication systems that allows them to be used to communicate about things, actions, and ideas that are not present at the pace or time where communication is taking place
Productivity
The capacity of a communication system for novel messages built out of discrete units to be produced and understood
Modality
Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system
Myths about signed language
- Signed language originally was derived from spoken language; 2. Signed languages do not have internal structure; 3. In sign language, words are completely iconic; and 4. Sign language is the same universally
Difference between codes and languages
- Codes do not have native speakers, languages do; 2. Codes have no structure but borrows it from the language it represents; 3. Word order is different; and 4. They each have their own structure
