introduction to languages

Question 1

natural language

Answer 1

• evolved over time through use in community
• must be spoken/signed or written
• english, ASL, hindi, etc.

Question 2

invented/constructed languages

Answer 2

• intentionally designed for specific purpose
• must be spoken/signed or written
• klingon, esperanto, dothraki, etc.

Question 3

written languages + reading

Answer 3

• taught
• acquired at older ages
• not present in every community
• visual representation of spoken languages

Question 4

spoken/signed languages

Answer 4

• acquired via exposure at young age
• present in every community
• independent of written language
• share hockett’s design features

Question 5

auditory modality

Answer 5

• modality of spoken/vocal languages
• produced by making sounds using vocal tract (larynx, tongue, lips, teeth)
• sounds are received by auditory tract of another person (middle & inner ear, hair cells, auditory nerve, brain)

Question 6

visual modality

Answer 6

• signed languages
• produced using motor system (fingers, hands, forearms, face)
• received by visual system of another person (retina, visual nerve)

Question 7

grammar

Answer 7

• mental system that allows human beings to form + interpret sounds, words, sentences
• includes phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics
• all languages have a grammar + some have relatively free word order but still show grammatical restrictions
• varieties/dialects of single languages have grammatical systems too

Question 8

mental grammar

Answer 8

• mental grammar = language system in mind/brain which allows language speakers to produce language that other speakers can understand
• all languages change over time; new words, borrowed, meaning/pronunciation changes, sentence structure changes
• changes are result of; contact with other languages, social differentiation, other natural processes of language change