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