Language

Question 1

Productivity

Answer 1

An infinite # of sentences are possible in any language.

Question 2

Regularity

Answer 2

systematic struc for all languages

• Absolute universal: syntax

Question 3

Competence

Answer 3

Knowledge of “the rules”

Question 4

Performance

Answer 4

Applying that knowledge when speaking or listening

Question 5

2 Theories of Language and Thought

Answer 5

1. Linguistic Determinism: Language shapes the way we think and perceive (eskimo)
2. Thought shapes language (Aristotle).
   * Language arose as tool for communicating thought

Question 6

Statistical Language Universals

Answer 6

Features found in many languages of the world, but not necessarily in all

Question 7

Absolute universals

Answer 7

Features found in all true languages

Question 8

Arbitrariness

Answer 8

• No inherent connection b/t words (or pronunciation) and their meaning
• We need to learn these connections

Question 9

Flexibility

Answer 9

• We assign names to everything: objects, emotions, etc.
• We invent names for new objects.
• sometimes change the meanings of words

Question 10

Displacement

Answer 10

We can talk about things that happened in the past, and that will happen in the future.

Question 11

Interchangeability

Answer 11

All humans (i.e., males & females) can produce an infinite # of unique sentences