Deck 1

Question 1

linguistic competence

Answer 1

Unconscious knowledge we have of our native language

Question 2

linguistic performance

Answer 2

Observable use of language; actual use of one’s linguistic competence

Question 3

performance error

Answer 3

Errors in language production such as a slip of the tongue or hesitations in speech

Question 4

speech communication chain

Answer 4

Process through which information is communicated. Contains source, transmitter, signal, receiver, and destination.

Question 5

speech communication chain steps

Answer 5

What you want to communicate
Pick out words to express idea
Put them in order following rules
Figure out how to pronounce them
Send pronunciation to vocal anatomy
Speak 
Listener hears the sounds
Listener interprets sounds as language
Listener receives communicated idea

Question 6

noise

Answer 6

Interference in communication chain

Question 7

lexicon

Answer 7

Mental repository of linguistic information about words and lexical expressions. Includes form, meaning, morphological, and syntactic properties.

Question 8

mental grammar

Answer 8

Mental representation of grammar. Knowledge a speaker has about the linguistic units and rules of his native language

Question 9

language variation

Answer 9

Property of languages having different ways to express the same meanings in different contexts according to factors like geography, social class, gender, etc.

Question 10

descriptive grammar

Answer 10

Objective description of a speaker’s knowledge of a language based on their use of language

Question 11

evidence that writing and language are not the same (list 4 reasons)

Answer 11

1. Writing is a later historical development than spoken language
2. Writing does not exist everywhere
3. Writing has to be taught whereas language is acquired
4. Speech is spontaneous whereas writing is edited

Question 12

reasons some people believe writing to be superior to speech (list 3 reasons)

Answer 12

1. Writing can be edited
2. Writing must be taught
3. Writing is more physically stable

Question 13

prescriptive grammar

Answer 13

Set of riles designed to give instructions regarding the socially embedded notion of the “correct” or “proper” way to speak or write

Question 14

prescribe

Answer 14

Tells us the rules of how to speak or write according to someone’s idea of what is “good” or “bad.”

Question 15

Charles Hockett’s nine design features (necessary for a communication system to be considered a language) (list)

Answer 15

1. Mode of communication
2. Semanticity
3. Pragmatic function
4. Interchangeability
5. Cultural transmission
6. Arbitrariness
7. Discreteness
8. Displacement
9. Productivity

Question 16

mode of communication

Answer 16

Means through which a message is transmitted for any given communication system

Question 17

semanticity

Answer 17

property of having signals convey a meaning shared by all communication systems

Question 18

pragmatic function

Answer 18

Useful purpose for any given communication system

Question 19

interchangeability

Answer 19

Property of a communication system by which all individuals have the ability to bother transmit and review messages

Question 20

cultural transmission

Answer 20

property of a communication system referring to the fact that at least some aspects of it are learned through interaction with others.

Question 21

arbitrariness

Answer 21

Refers to the fact that a word’s meaning is not predictable from its linguistic form, nor is its form dictated by its meaning

Question 22

linguistic sign

Answer 22

Combination of linguistic form and meaning

Question 23

convention

Answer 23

Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice

Question 24

nonarbitrariness

Answer 24

Direct correspondence between the physical properties of a form and the meaning that the form refers to

Question 25

iconic

Answer 25

Relationship between form and meaning such that the form of a word bears a resemblance to its meaning

Question 26

onomatopoeia

Answer 26

Iconic use of words that are imitative of sounds occurring in nature or that have means that are associated with such sounds

Question 27

conventionalized

Answer 27

Something that is established, commonly agreed upon, or operating in a certain way according to common practice. When an arbitrary relationship of a linguistic sign and its meaning is conventionalized, the linguistic sign bears a constant relationship only because people consistently use tat linguistic sign to convey that meaning

Question 28

sound symbolism

Answer 28

Phenomenon by which certain sounds are evocative of a particular meaning

Question 29

discreteness

Answer 29

Property of communication systems by which complex messages may be built up out of smaller parts

Question 30

displacement

Answer 30

Property some communication systems that allows them to be used to communicate about things, actions, and ideas that are not present at the place or time where the communication is taking place

Question 31

productivity

Answer 31

Capacity of a communication system for novel messages built out of discrete units to be produced and understood.

Question 32

modality

Answer 32

Mode of communication; tells us how language is produced and how it is perceived

Question 33

myths about signed languages (list 4)

Answer 33

1. Sign language is a manual code 2. There is only one signed language used throughout the world 3. Signed language comes from spoken spoken languages 4. Sign language does not use words at all but rather the speaker draws pictures in the air

Question 34

differences between codes and languages (list 4)

Answer 34

1. Codes borrow their structure from natural language 2. Codes use certain gestures to represent letters, morphemes, and words and follow the grammar of that language 3. Codes do not have native speakers 4. Sign language follows its own rules for word order