III Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are call systems & how do they differ from human language?
- call systems: limited sounds, context specific, vary intensity and duration, no combo
- language: system of random symbols
Difference between phoneme and morpheme & examples?
phoneme: sound contrast that makes a difference b, p, f, v, b
craw/claw in japan
vat/bat spanish
minimal pairs: pit/bit
morpheme: sound that conveys meaning, “un” and “ing”
cat has 2 (cat or multiple)
happy birthday has 3
What is syntax?
sentence structure
Difference between Noam Chompsky’s idea of universal grammar and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
universal grammar: similar thought process for language, all have common structural basis (creole language)
Sapir-Whorf: linguistic relativity, language creates different ways of thinking (Hopi & time, exist vs. existed)
A. Describe development of pidgin language into Creole form.
B. When & why do such changes take place?
pidgin: acculturation during colonization or trade
creole: mature, primary language after enculturation (gullah)
How does lexicon of a language influence the perceptions of people participating in a particular culture?
lexicon: vocabulary, morphemes and meanings
- relation to other words, expressions, sentences
What is the field of sociolinguistics?
relationship between society & language
-regional, gender, class, under-class
How does gender and class help to influence how language is used?
- change/difference in language equals same in culture
- diglossia: different dialects of language, high/low according to social rank (slang)
- japanese women fake high voice, feminine/masculine
Define speech communities.
share language rules/patterns (law office)
Define productivity.
use language to produce new word/expression (chimps)
Define displacement.
communication w/o direct stimuli (chimps)
Define ape language research.
sign language, joking, lying
Define language origins.
combining call systems
Define prevarication.
lying
Define semantics.
meaning system
Define crouching.
submission, insecurity, fear
Define minimal pairs.
differ only in one phoneme
- pit/bit
- bit/beat
- spin/pin
Define syntax.
sentence structure
Define focal vocabulary.
specialized lexicon (law office, difference words for color, sand, snow)
Define honorifics.
words/expressions implying high status, politeness, respect
Define historical linguistics.
study of history & development of languages
Define click consonants.
!kung
Define language revitalization.
revival of extinct languages (latin)
- weak, moribund, extinct
- culture, identity, ecology
Define prestige speech.
educated, respect
