Module 1

Question 1

What is Linguistics? And give some detail

Answer 1

The study of language (scientifically).
How it is used
How it is acquired
How it is represented in the brain

Question 2

What are the five main branches of Linguistics?

Answer 2

Phonetics
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics

Question 3

what is the difference between language and Language?

Answer 3

languages: English, French etc
Language: the mental capacity of humans to understand a language

Question 4

Do we learn language / grammar? And who answered this question?

Answer 4

Not really. Noam Chomsky said this.

Question 5

What is UG?

Answer 5

Universal Grammar and it is innate

Question 6

Does language acquisition occur automatically?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

What does Language being innate mean?

Answer 7

Means the human mind has a mental capacity not a specific language

Question 8

How are humans physically equipped for speech?

Answer 8

VIA our articulatory apparatus, which is biologically adapted to produce speech

Question 9

What does the Vocal Tract consist of?

Answer 9

Pharynx
Oral cavity
Nasal cavity

Question 10

Describe the Larynx

Answer 10

its the sound source (vocal folds are within the larynx)

Question 11

Name the order of filters in the vocal tract (first second third)

Answer 11

Pharynx
Oral cavity
Nasal cavity

Question 12

Draw the vocal tract cross section

Answer 12

damnit.

Question 13

there are areas in the brain specialized for different what? And what are they?

Answer 13

linguistic functions.
Left hemi
Right hemisphere

Question 14

The LEFT hemisphere, a specialized area in the brain, is responsible for what?

Answer 14

Language, reasoning, math, logic

Question 15

The RIGHT hemisphere, a specialized area in the brain , is responsible for what?

Answer 15

Pattern matching, spatial abilities, process music (non-linguistic sound)

Question 16

What is aphasia?

Answer 16

An acquired language disorder via brain dmg (ie:stroke)

Question 17

Name two examples of Aphasia.

Answer 17

Broca’s Aphasia

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Question 18

Describe Broca’s Aphasia and give an example

Answer 18

When non-fluent speech

IE: Tell me about this cookie? uh…uh… boy…cook…. cookie….took…uhh.uuh … cookie

Question 19

Describe Wernicke’s Aphasia and give an exmaple

Answer 19

Non-sensical/meaningless speech.

IE: I know it’s you couldn’t say it’s … I couldn’t say what it is.

Question 20

Language as an instinct can also be said as, Language is…

Answer 20

Biologically predetermined

Question 21

How are humans biologically predetermined for language?

Answer 21

physically (articulatory apparatus)

Specialized areas in the brain for different linguistic functions

Question 22

what is the job of a linguist?

Answer 22

to explain how the similarities and differences arise among different language

Question 23

What does it mean to know a language?

Answer 23

to be able to produce and understand language - use it creatively and to recognize the not acceptable

Question 24

What is created In English, when a wh-word is moved to the front of the sentence

Answer 24

a wh-question

Question 25

Not being taught that there is a lot to each rule in the English is the effect of what?

Answer 25

The effect of UG on English syntax

Question 26

What is Syntax?

Answer 26

The ways in which words are combined into sentences

Question 27

Can attaching un to any verb have the same effect? and what meaning does happen when you do?

Answer 27

No it cannot the un sometimes makes the verb have a meaning of reversing IE: unzip unclose

Question 28

What is Phonology?

Answer 28

How sounds pattern together

Question 29

What's an example of Phonology

Answer 29

Knowing Blick and Bluck are not words but Black and Block are words

Question 30

What is an entailment?

Answer 30

the relationship between two sentences where the truth of one requires the truth of the other

Question 31

Define Phonetics

Answer 31

Knowledge of speech and sound. Ex: n vs. x as a first sound - exist vs. doesn't exist (not taught)

Question 32

Define Phonology

Answer 32

the knowledge about sound patterns

Question 33

Define Morphology

Answer 33

Knowledge about word structure | IE: un-tied vs. un-opened

Question 34

Define Syntax

Answer 34

Knowledge about sentence patterns

Question 35

Define semantics

Answer 35

knowledge about sentence meaning

Question 36

Define Prescriptive Grammar

Answer 36

a set of rules that prescribe how people should speak and write (proper English) (Explicit Knowledge)

Question 37

Define Descriptive Grammar

Answer 37

A set of rules that describe how people actually do speak (Implicit knowledge)

Question 38

What does descriptive grammar underlie?

Answer 38

the subconscious knowledge (competence) of native speakers and it is IMPLICITLY acquired

Question 39

what are four things that prescriptive grammar / rule follows

Answer 39

need to consciously know it must be told the rue to obey it constitutes explicit knowledge may choose not to obey it

Question 40

what are three things that descriptive grammar / rule follows

Answer 40

Ppl are not aware of this process; happens automatically Generally not able to disobey Able to observe, describe and explain this process

Question 41

Are you allowed to split infinitives?

Answer 41

No Ie: to boldly go - Wrong To go boldly - Correct

Question 42

are you allowed to end a sentence with a preposition? But are there exceptions?

Answer 42

No and yes there are exceptions ie: This is something you should go to - WRONG This is something to which you should go - CORRECT What's the world coming to? EXCEPTION

Question 43

Name three points about prescriptive grammar rules

Answer 43

Speakers must be told / taught these rules Speakers may choose to disobey them Obeying the rules can be inappropriate in certain social contexts

Question 44

Are speakers aware of descriptive rules?

Answer 44

No. Ppl know them intuitively. Not part of explicit (conscious) knowledge but rather implicit (subconscious) knowledge (competence)

Question 45

What do linguists do?

Answer 45

goal is to describe the rules that make language the way it is and discover what aspects of UG allow us to speak this way

Question 46

Do linguists prescribe what patterns in language should be like? if not what do they do?

Answer 46

No they do not. They describe and explain the patterns observed in lanugage

Question 47

How do linguists go about uncovering the structure of language?

Answer 47

Scientific method | Confirm a hypothesis