Vocabulary and Terminology

Question 1

Linguistic Competence

Answer 1

The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language

Question 2

Linguistic Performance

Answer 2

The actual use of language in concrete, real-world situations

Question 3

Performance Error

Answer 3

Unintentionally incorrect use of speech, brought on by distractions, memory limitations, etc.

Question 4

Speech Communication Chain

Answer 4

The stages of communication in which an idea proceeds from the mind of the listener to the mind of the speaker.

Question 5

Speech Communication Chain Steps

Answer 5

Form an idea
Choose the words to express that idea
Place those words in a recognizable order
Produce the words audibly
Project those words to the intended audience
Listener hears the sounds
Listener decodes the sounds
Listener receives communicated idea

Question 6

Noise

Answer 6

In linguistics, any sound that interferes with effective communication

Question 7

Lexicon

Answer 7

The cumulative knowledge a native speaker has of his or her language.

Question 8

Mental Grammar

Answer 8

All grammar rules stored in the speaker’s brain

Question 9

Language Variation

Answer 9

Linguistic differences within a language in terms of sound and structure

Question 10

Descriptive Grammar

Answer 10

An objective set of rules based on observed usage of a specific language

Question 11

Ways in which Writing and Language are not the same

Answer 11

Writing does not exist in every society
Writing must be taught; it is not inherent
Writing can be edited once created
Speech is ancient; writing is relatively modern (~6,000 years old)

Question 12

Some advantages in Writing, vs. Speaking

Answer 12

Writing can be edited, creating better flow and no mistakes
Writing must be taught, making it more universal within a language
Writing is more stable

Question 13

Prescriptive Grammar

Answer 13

A formalized set of rules based on how speakers of the language believe the language should be spoken and written

Question 14

Prescribe

Answer 14

To lay down a rule

Question 15

Charles Hockett’s Nine Design Features essential to language

Answer 15

Mode of communication
Semanticity
Pragmatic function
Interchangeability
Cultural transmission
Arbitrariness
Discreteness
Displacement
Productivity

Question 16

Communication Mode

Answer 16

The channel through which communicative intent is expressed, i.e. speech, gestures, etc.

Question 17

Semanticity

Answer 17

The property requiring that all signals in a communication system have meaning or function

Question 18

Pragmatic Function

Answer 18

A useful purpose

Question 19

Interchangeability

Answer 19

The ability to function in multiple ways; in the case of linguistics, to be able to both produce and receive messages

Question 20

Cultural Transmission

Answer 20

Something that must be transmitted by way of the culture in which one grows up; for example, language

Question 21

Arbitrariness

Answer 21

Something that is chosen randomly or at whim; in the case of linguistics, any sound can represent any idea or object, “just because”

Question 22

Linguistic Sign

Answer 22

An abstract structure whose instances participate in a language

Question 23

Convention

Answer 23

Any norm within a group or community; in the case of linguistics, how to use, and therefore what the meaning is, of certain terms

Question 24

Nonarbitrariness

Answer 24

Certain parts of speech that are universal and therefore ordered in some way; for example the “ee” sound used in many languages for words associated with smallness

Question 25

Iconic

Answer 25

Relationship between word an meaning so that the word resembles its meaning (such as onomatopoeia)

Question 26

Onomatopoeia

Answer 26

A word that sounds like the sound it is attempting to imitate

Question 27

Conventionalized

Answer 27

Something that is established or commonly agreed upon

Question 28

Sound Symbolism

Answer 28

The partial representation of the sense of a word by its sound, as in bang, fizz, and slide

Question 29

Discreteness

Answer 29

The property of communication systems by which complex messages are built up of smaller parts

Question 30

Displacement

Answer 30

The ability to communicate about things, ideas, or actions that are not present or taking place at the time of communication

Question 31

Productivity

Answer 31

The capacity of a communication system for novel messages to be built out of discrete units and be understood by others

Question 32

Modality

Answer 32

Different ways in which languages can be expressed, such as gesture-visual instead of spoken-auditory

Question 33

Myths about signed languages

Answer 33

Sign languages are derived from the local spoken language
Sign language is pantomime
Sign language is universal
All deaf people speak sign language

Question 34

Differences between codes and languages

Answer 34

A code is artificially constructed from a natural language
Sign languages evolve; codes don’t
Rate of transmission in codes is much slower
Signed languages are their own entity, not based on any spoken language