Week 2 Vocab Flashcards
Linguistic Competance
System of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language
Linguistic Performance
the way a language system is used in communication
performance errors
errors made by a learner who is tired or rushed. Not competency errors.
Speech Communication Chain
connection between a speaker and a listener via audio, visual, or electronic means of communication.
Speech Communication Chain Steps
1)Linguistic Form: speaker chooses what to say 2)Psychological Form: speaker chooses how to say 3)Acoustic: Speaker forms sounds/signs/types 4)physiological: receiver hears/sees/reads message 5)linguistic: listener processes and understands message
noise
a sound, especially loud or unpleasant, that causes a disturbance
lexicon
the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge.
mental grammar
grammar stored in one’s brain to produce language that can be understood by others
language variation
regional, social, or contextual variations in the way people are saying the same thing. (pop, soda, coke)
Evidence Writing and Language Differ
1) Almost everyone can speak, or gesture, to communicate. Not everyone can read and write meaningful content. 2) Humans learn to speak within the first 2 years of life (normally developed humans) but written language is based off of the acquisition of spoken language. 3) Spoken language morphs and changes relatively quickly over time-pronunciations/slang/etc. Written language changes much more slowly if at all. 4) Written language can be preserved for a millenia, while spoken language recording is a newer technology and not permanent.
Descriptive Grammar
a set of rules about language that are based on how the language is actually used. There is no right or wrong.
Prescriptive Grammar
a set of rules that are based on how people think a language should be used.
Three Reasons people believe writing is superior to Speech
1) Written language is duable and lasting. It does not change on a whim. 2) Written langauge has rules and structure, its organized. 3) While spoken word tends to be fleeting, “in the moment”, written language can be read at different times, can be re-read, and take time understanding a message.
prescribe
instructions or rules for others to follow
modes of communication
verbal, nonverbal, written, visual. Visual, Aural, Gestural, Spatial, Linguistic
semanticity
the use of arbitrary or non-arbitrary signals to transmit meaningful messages.
pragmatic function
the meaning a speaker wishes to convey to listeners
interchangability
humans can give and receive identical linguistic signals
cultural transmission
The process through which cultural elements, such as beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, are passed on or taught.
arbitrariness
the absense of any natural or neccessary connection between a word’s meaning and its sound or form.
convention
rules for conveying messages, combinations or way that a writer manipulates language.
non-arbitrary
not subject to individual determination;
iconic
the resemblance or similarity of a form/symbol and its meaning
onomatopoeia
a word that is spelled how the thing sounds. IE POW BOOM ZIP
conventionalized
the continuous mutual coordination and matching of communication knowledge and practices
sound symbolism
vocal sounds or phonemes carry meaning on their own.
discreteness
human language is made of distinct sounds. a sound on its own means one thing, combined sounds mean another.
displacement
the ability to communicate about things that are not physically present, not in the here and now.
productivity
the degree to which native speakers of a language use a particular grammatical process
modality
language is used to describe possible or desireable situations
4 myths about sign languages
1) Sign Language is universal. 2) The d/Deaf can read lips to understand what you’re saying. 3) If you speak slowly and increase volume they will understand you better. 4) Sign Language is not a real language.
Charles Hocketts 9 design features for a system to be considered a language
mode of communication, semanticity, pragmatic function, interchangeability, cultural transmission, arbitrariness, discreteness, displacement.
Differences between Codes and Language
1)code is schematic, 2) natural language is more free to change, 3) language is a system of communication, 4) code is not a language, more like a set of conventions.
