View
221
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
Some Fundamental Points of Language
Some General Concepts About Language
Some General Concepts About Language
Wherever humans exist, L existsLanguage is systematic & very complexDifferent languages are very diverse but
also share universal propertiesSpeech is primary, writing is secondaryChildren ACQUIRE and are not TAUGHT
their L1Every language changes as time passes
Wherever humans exist, L existsLanguage is systematic & very complexDifferent languages are very diverse but
also share universal propertiesSpeech is primary, writing is secondaryChildren ACQUIRE and are not TAUGHT
their L1Every language changes as time passes
Some Myths About Language
Some Myths About Language
Some L are primitiveWriting is more perfect than speechFrench is romantic, German harsh,
English hard to learnSwearing degrades a languageSloppy speech should be avoided
Some L are primitiveWriting is more perfect than speechFrench is romantic, German harsh,
English hard to learnSwearing degrades a languageSloppy speech should be avoided
Speech versus WritingSpeech versus Writing
Why does ling consider speech primary?Writing is a later developmentWriting does not exist everywhere, spoken L
doesWriting must be taught, one can still
communicate using language without being literate
Why does ling consider speech primary?Writing is a later developmentWriting does not exist everywhere, spoken L
doesWriting must be taught, one can still
communicate using language without being literate
Different Definitions of “Grammar”
Different Definitions of “Grammar”
Mental GrammarUnconscious rules of L that allow us to construct
grammatical utterances (plural /-s/ in English)
Descriptive GrammarLinguists’ descriptions of the rules of L
Prescriptive GrammarThe “proper” or “correct” way to use language
Mental GrammarUnconscious rules of L that allow us to construct
grammatical utterances (plural /-s/ in English)
Descriptive GrammarLinguists’ descriptions of the rules of L
Prescriptive GrammarThe “proper” or “correct” way to use language
Prescriptive v. Descriptive Grammar
Prescriptive v. Descriptive Grammar
Prescriptive“Right” v. “wrong”Casts value judgmentsTries to force specific L variety
DescriptiveAccounts for observed rules/patternsUnbiasedAllows for different varieties
Prescriptive“Right” v. “wrong”Casts value judgmentsTries to force specific L variety
DescriptiveAccounts for observed rules/patternsUnbiasedAllows for different varieties
Is a prescriptive variety necessary?
Is a prescriptive variety necessary?
Helps establish a ‘standard’ for cross-dialectal communication
Second language learningMarking social distinctions
Helps establish a ‘standard’ for cross-dialectal communication
Second language learningMarking social distinctions
Everyone uses several registers:Everyone uses several registers:
What is a register?ProfessionalPeer groupMotherese
What is a register?ProfessionalPeer groupMotherese
Language StatisticsLanguage Statistics
How many languages are there?Which languages have the most
speakers and which are more official?
What some people think about English
How many languages are there?Which languages have the most
speakers and which are more official?
What some people think about English
Animal CommunicationAnimal Communication
Observations from File 2.3 “Primate Studies”
We share 99% of genetic material with the great apes, yet that 1% difference is responsible for human’s ability to “speak”
Gua versus Donald
Observations from File 2.3 “Primate Studies”
We share 99% of genetic material with the great apes, yet that 1% difference is responsible for human’s ability to “speak”
Gua versus Donald
Animal Communication cont.Animal Communication cont.
Viki: female chimp taught to “vocalize” Washoe and Koko: From human speech
sounds to ASL Sarah: language board ‘sentences’Lana: lexigrams
Viki: female chimp taught to “vocalize” Washoe and Koko: From human speech
sounds to ASL Sarah: language board ‘sentences’Lana: lexigrams
Animal Communication cont.Animal Communication cont.
Still the main questions is Did these chimps acquire human language?
The chimp “Nim Chimpsky”Use of language: use of grammarMental referents, symbols we conjure when
we think of a word
Still the main questions is Did these chimps acquire human language?
The chimp “Nim Chimpsky”Use of language: use of grammarMental referents, symbols we conjure when
we think of a word
Recommended