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The nature of language and linguistics Chapter 1, (Brinton 2010)

The nature of language and linguistics Chapter 1, (Brinton 2010). Outline. 1.The nature of human language 1.1.Fundemantal beliefs about language 1.2.Linguistic signs -iconic -indexical -symbolic 1.3.The rule governed nature of language

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The nature of language and linguistics Chapter 1, (Brinton 2010)

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  1. The nature of language and linguisticsChapter 1, (Brinton 2010)

  2. Outline 1.The nature of human language 1.1.Fundemantal beliefs about language 1.2.Linguistic signs -iconic -indexical -symbolic 1.3.The rule governed nature of language 1.4.Language unirversals, innateness, and creativity 1.5.Animal communication codes 2.The nature of grammar 2.1.Definitions of grammar 2.2.Fallacies concerning grammar 3.Linguistics and components of language 4.Organization of the book

  3. 1.The nature of human language A system of arbitrary vocal signs. L is Rule-governed, creative, universal, innate, learned, human 1.1.Fundemantal beliefs about language •L ≠ writing: sounds ≠ written symbols, syntax, vocabulary are different. •Connection between a word and the thing it names. •Our language is natural and sensible; foreign languages are perverse •We avoid naming certain objects; directly naming things we fear •has the effect of action: I nominate Alex •gives expression to our thoughts •transmits info; communicative function •maintain social intercourse; phatic function •raw material for works of literature •others: get others to do things; express feelings; make promises; ask questions; talk to oneself; metalanguage

  4. 1.The nature of human language 1.2.Linguistic signs •Things stand for something else; sequences of sounds represent concrete objects, or events -iconic: resembles; photographs, diagrams --onomatopoeic words: bow wow, hav hav --word order: represents temporal and causal orders: “Sybil became ill and left the party.” -indexical: points to; smoke->Fire, symptom->illness, smile->hapiness --demonstrative pronouns: this, that; now, then -symbolic: conventionally related, arbitrary; flag->nation, rose->love --words (sequences of sounds) do not bear a natural, necessary, logical, inevitable connection to the things they represent

  5. 1.The nature of human language 1.3.The rule governed nature of language •Signs occuring in a system; rule-governed •from observable patterns in language we can infer its rules •competence VS performance (implicit knowledge VS actual use) •Act as a kind of constraint on what is possible in a language

  6. 1.The nature of human language 1.4.Language universals, innateness, and creativity •Language universals: more general set of constraints on language; SVO, SOV, VSO, *VOS, *OVS, *OSV, --passive structures •principles VS parameters --Principle: every sentence must have a subject --Parameter: overtly expressed or omitted •innate: inborn capacity for language acquisition; but also learned; parameters become set •creative (infinite): --can produce and understand novel sentences --sentence of infinite length

  7. 1.The nature of human language 1.5.Animal communication codes --human language is for humans; learned and innate; lie, exaggerate, mislead --animal language: innate; topic is related to immediate environment; iconic; not symbolic; codes are not learned (genetic transmission)

  8. 2.The nature of grammar 2.1.Definitions of grammar (linguistics)=rules or principles by which a language works; --all speakers have an internalized grammar of their language (competence), regardless of they can talk about the rules of it. --descriptive VS prescriptive grammar ‘We don’t need no education’ --constitutive rules VS regulatory rules ‘the chased dog cat’ ‘he did good on the exam’

  9. 2.The nature of grammar 2.2.Fallacies concerning grammar •some languages have little grammar, primitive, simpler •simple grammar means what? •inflecting a verb might be simpler, but auxiliaries get complex

  10. 2.The nature of grammar 2.2.Fallacies concerning grammar (Continued) •grammars should be regular (logical, analogical); there is some drive towards regularity; attempts to eliminate supposedly illogical features --four fourteen, sixsixteen, sevenseventeen; but fivefifteen --no perfectly regular language exists Turkish: gidecek misin? gidecek miyim? gidecek miyiz? gidecek mi? gidecek miler?* •change over time: deterioration? Evolution? •grammar of native language is not taught •differences between languages are not random •grammar of spoken and written languages are different.

  11. 3.Linguistics and components of language •Phonology: the study of a the speech sounds of a particular language --Phonetics: the study of speech sounds of human language in general: production, perception, physical properties -consonants -vowels -glides -semivowels -distinctive VS non-distinctive sounds -IPA •Morphology: the study of the structure of form of words in a particular language, and of their classification; considers principles of word formation: --prefixes, suffixes, roots --distinctive and predictable units (a VS an) --processes of word formation: compounding, suffixing •how words can be grouped into classes (part of speech); form, meaning

  12. 3.Linguistics and components of language (continued) •Syntax: arrangement of words into larger units: sentences, clauses, phrases •Semantics: the study of how meaning is conveyed (words, phrases, clauses) --lexical VS grammatical meaning (sentence semantics) -lexical semantics: synonymity, antonymity -sentence semantics: ‘Jill closed the door ‘ VS ‘The door closed’ -discourse semantics: •Pragmatics: functions of language and its use in context: ‘The light is green!’

  13. 4.Organization of the book • Phonology Semantics • Morphology • Syntax • Pragmatics

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