W6,7 Language Origin Flashcards
(33 cards)
Who regarded the origin of human l-ge as a matter of evolutionary biology?
Noam Chomsky
Language is basically onomatopoetic.
The ‘bow-wow’ theory
The original words were formed from emotion expression sounds.
The ‘pooh-pooh’ theory
The origin of words is from the ability of people reflected in ‘vocal expression’.
The ‘ding-dong’ theory
Certain syllables of words have meaning: e.g. lieben, l’ubit’, love all mean the same.
The sound symbolism hypothesis
The origin of words is from human necessity to cooperate.
The ‘yo-he-ho’ theory
Language originates from song.
The ‘la-la’ theory
Language change due to ease of articulation: e.g. ‘fifths’ omits th in pronunciation.
Articulatory simplification
Pronounciation changes to reflect spelling of words: eg “often” has t sound as spelled.
Spelling Pronounciation
What are paleontological evidences that humans developed to produce language?
- Humans have domed tongue and L-shaped oral cavity.
2. The gene FOXP2 was discovered in human bodies.
_____ is insufficient to be a language but it is used in communication bt distinct language speakers
Pidgin
_____ is more complex than Pidgin, but not as other formal languages.
Creole
Bickerton’s hypothesis: All Creole speakers share similarities in different communities because:
Linguistic structures are innate and they fill in Pidgin vocabularies. Therefore, Creole is developed.
As an evidence, young Eng speakers use grammars alike to Creole.
What are 2 primary areas of brain for language?
Broca’s area (left-frontal cortex)
Wernicke’s area (left temporal lobe)
Aphasia
numerous syndrome of communicative impairment
One can lose ability of language due to brain damage. The one suffers from ___.
Aphasia
Impairment of reading is called:
acquired dyslexia
impairment of writing is called:
acquired dysgraphia
Neural syndrome which disables one from reading new words. He can only read words he already know.
Phonological acquired dyslexia
Disorder that one cannot read a word that has irregular pronunciation: e.g. one can read “mint”, but not “pint”.
Surface dyslexia
Patients with this disorder struggles to name an object. They may answer with similar name: e.g. dog for cat, chair for table.
Anomia
Disorder that patients can’t understand spoken words, but can read, write, and speak.
Word deafness
Disorder that patients can’t understand written words, but can read them out loud.
Word blindness
Patients use one word for other words as well.
Paralexia
