Post on 28-Dec-2015
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The design features of a language (Charles Hockett)
Mode of communication
Semanticity
Pragmatic function
Interchangeability
Cultural transmission
Arbitrariness
Discreteness
Displacement
Productivity
Productivity
All human languages use a finite set of linguistic data to generate an infinite set of possible sentences – the creative aspect of language
A mystery: where does language come from? (1)
Ding-Dong
humans make to mimic the sounds of the world around them.
boom = explosion
oink = the sound made by a pig.
Bow-wow
humans form their first words by imitating animal sounds.
It seems difficult to accept that humans learned to speak to one another by talking to the animals.
A mystery: where does language come from? (2)
Pooh-poohthe first words developed from sighs of pleasure, moans of pain, and other semi-involuntary cries or exclamations. Uh-ohhuman language begins with the use of arbitrary symbols that represent warnings to other members of the human band. Yo-he-holanguage arose in rhythmic chants and vocalisms uttered by people engaged in communal labour.
A mystery: where does language come from? (3)
Language is a human instinct
Human beings are born with the ability to speak language.
Universal Grammar (UG)
Universal Grammar (UG)
Definition The properties that all human languages share.
Feature Innateness
Human beings are born with language ability.
Evidence Children can acquire languages they are exposed to with ease.
What does it mean by saying you speak
Mandarin Chinese ?
Linguistically, you possess the linguistic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.
Sounds
Words
Sentences
Linguistic Knowledge
Knowledge of sound system
The inventory of sounds in a languageChinese: [+l], [-r]. Lai, *rai
The possible arrangement of sound sequencesEnglish: [nuk]; [snuk]; *[sknuk]; *[mnuk]
Chinese: [mau]; [myau]; *[aum]; *[yaum]
Knowledge of words
Form and meaning => arbitrary
Knowledge of sentences and non-sentences
All students love linguistics;
*Love linguistics all students
Competence vs. Performance
Competence
What you know about linguistic knowledge
A perfect linguistic system
Performance
How you use this linguistic knowledge in actual speech production and comprehension
Example:
Competence: John likes German cars.
Performance: You don’t*John like German car.
What is grammar?
What a speaker knows about language.
Linguistic knowledge, competence
Components
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
lexicon
Types of grammar
Descriptive grammar
To describe what you know about grammarJohn is the person who/whom I met yesterday.
暴露 [bau lou], [pou lou]
Prescriptive grammar
To tell you how you should use about grammarJohn is the person *who/whom I met yesterday.
暴露 *[bau lou], [pou lou]
Teaching grammar
Used to learn a language
Do you agree…
Apes and dogs have their own languages. We just don’t understand them.
The Formosan languages (e.g., Paiwan, Atayal) are aboriginal languages. They are not as good as Chinese, English, or French.