Chapter 2- CSET #2 Flashcards
(20 cards)
When was the Indo-European period?
3000-2000 BCE, originated near Black Sea/northeastern Europe. Key memory: “daughter” word similarities across languages (daughter, Tochter, duhitár)
List the three main periods of English language development
Old English (500-1066)
Middle English (1066-1500)
Modern English (1500-present, divided into Early Modern and Late Modern)
What are the key features of Old English (500-1066)?
- Four dialects: Northumbrian, Mercian, West Saxon, Kentish
Used runic characters
Example text: Beowulf
Heavy Norse influence
Unrecognizable to modern readers
When was Indo-European period and what’s the key evidence it existed?
3000-2000 BCE near Black Sea
Evidence: Similar words across languages (daughter/Tochter/duhitár)
Memory Hook: “The BLACK SEA FAMILY”
What happened during 1066 and why is it important?
Norman Conquest
French influence begins
10,000 French words added
Memory Hook: “In ten-sixty-six, French and English did mix!”
What are the features of Middle English (1066-1500)?
- Biggest language change period
Added French words (especially legal terms)
Simplified grammar
Famous work: Canterbury Tales
London dialect became standard
Memory Hook: “M for Mixed families”
What are the 7 branches of linguistics?
P - Phonology (sound patterns)
O - Orthography (spelling rules)
P - Phonetics (actual sounds)
S - Syntax (sentence structure)
M - Morphology (word parts)
S - Semantics (meaning)
S - Sociolinguistics (society’s use)
What are Chomsky’s two main contributions to linguistics?
a) Universal Grammar (UG) - “Baby’s First Language Gift”
b) Transformational Grammar (TG) - “Language LEGO Set”
Memory Hook: “Babies playing with LEGOs”
What are the 8 inflectional affixes?
S - Plural (-s, -es)
P - Possessive (-‘s)
I - -ing (present participle)
C - Comparative (-er)
E - -ed (past tense)
P - Present 3rd person (-s)
E - -en (past participle)
N - suNerlative (-est)
What’s the difference between Pidgin and Creole?
Pidgin: Basic contact language (like business talk)
Creole: Evolved full language (becomes native)
Memory Hook: “Pidgin is the Parent, Creole is the Child”
What are the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions?
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
What are the three types of sentence structures?
- Simple (one independent clause)
- Compound (two independent clauses + coordinator)
- Complex (independent + dependent clauses)
What are the main factors affecting language development?
- Genetic Predisposition
- Social Interaction
- Sociocultural Factors
- Affective Factors (personality traits)
What are Krashen’s 5 hypotheses for Second Language Acquisition?
- Acquisition-Learning (natural vs formal)
- Monitor (editing function)
- Natural Order (predictable sequence)
- Input (one step beyond current level)
- Affective Filter (emotional factors)
What is Semantics and what does it study?
Study of meaning in language (oral and contextual)
Deals with word meanings and sentence meanings
Memory Hook: “Semantics = Sense & Meaning”
What is Pragmatics and how is it different from Semantics?
Study of language as a tool for communication
Focuses on speaker’s intended meaning vs literal meaning
Studies how context affects meaning
Example: “Is your arm broken?” really means “Turn on the light yourself!”
Memory Hook: “Pragmatics = Practical Use”
What is Etymology and where is it found in dictionaries?
- Study of word origins and how meanings change
Found in [square brackets] after pronunciation
Memory Hook: “Etymology = Every word’s story”
What are the two main ways to spot word origins?
- Word Families (shared roots)
Example: chron- family (chronometer, chronological) - Borrowed Words (from other languages)
Example: taboo (Tongan), angst (German)
What is Orthography?
Standardized system for writing words with proper letters
Includes spelling rules
Example: “i before e except after c”
Memory Hook: “Ortho = Correct writing”
Why is English spelling sometimes difficult?
Due to Great Vowel Shift in Middle English
Sound-symbol correspondences became unpredictable
Spellings stayed same while pronunciations changed
