INTRODUCTION to linguistics

1. INTRODUCTIONto linguistics LI 2013 Nathalie F. Martin

2. What you should know: • How humans are made to speak • What is language • Linguistic competence vs. performance • Descriptive vs. Prescriptive approach to language • Grammar: • Generality, parity, universality, mutability, inaccessibility LANGUAGE: AN INTRODUCTION (chap. 1, O’Grady)

3. Language & Communication

4. Fill in the Blanks Topic of reference Context Information Sender Message Receiver Channel Air Code Languages: English, French, etc. Communication Process (Jakobson)

5. COMMUNICATION – Discussion • Who/what can communicate? • What does one (human or non human) need to be able to communicate? • What is language? • Do animals have language abilities?

6. Communication • Communication is a behaviour, or the transmission of information, that affects the behaviour of others. • When a living organism (or machine) communicates it sends messages about itself or its environment. • The message is placed into a code. • Humans have a highly elaborate code called language.

7. Language, Dialect, Pidgin or Creole? • intergroup communication • characterized by it’sownphonological, syntactic, or lexical properties • A code or system used by consensus. • native language deroved from a pidgin. • A regional or social variety of a language. • Language: • Dialect: • Variety: • Pidgin: • Creole:

8. DIALECTS - Define • Dialect: • A regional or social variety of a language characterized by it’s own phonological, syntactic, or lexical properties. • We will use the term « Variety » in this class instead of speaking of dialects.

9. PIDGIN - Define • Pidgin: A variety that emerges when speakers of a different language are brought together in a stable situation requiring intergroup communication; it has no native speakers and generally is considered to have a reduced grammatical system. Ex: Blood Diamond (Leonardo Dicaprio) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP5ILgKxapI&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QTfxGMe_Y

10. CREOLE - Define • Creole: A variety that arises as the native language of the children of members of a pidgin speech community.

11. Language, Dialect, Pidgin or Creole? • Trade language • Chiac • Swahili • Hatian • African American Vernacular English • Language: • Dialect: • Variety: • Pidgin: • Creole:

12. Grammar

13. LanguageAccording to Linguists - Discussion • EXPLAIN A LINGUISTS’ VIEW OF LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR.

14. Linguistic Performance: How you use this knowledge in actual speech production and comprehension. Linguistic Competence: What you know about a language. Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p. 5. Linguistic Competence Vs Performance

15. Prescriptive or Descriptive Grammar • In Chiac French, the borrowed English verb is always conjugated as an “er” French verb. • In French negative sentences, we should always have “ne” + the verb + “pas” (ex: Elle neveutpas) • In African American Vernacular English, some speakers pronounce the final sound of “sing” as an “n”. • Never say “ain’t” • Desc. • Presc • Desc. • Presc.

16. Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar • Whatis the differencebetweenPrescriptive Grammar and Descriptive Grammar?

17. GrammarPrinciples Generality: All languages have a grammar Parity: All grammars are equal Universality: Grammars are alike in basic ways Mutability: Grammars change over time Inaccessibility: Grammatical knowledgeissubconscious Reference: Chapter 1 (O’Grady & Archibald)

18. Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p. 5. The Truth About Grammar • Name all five characteristics of grammar according to linguists. • Generality: All languages have a grammar • Parity: All grammars are equal • Universality: Grammars are alike in basic ways • Mutability: Grammars change over time • Inaccessibility: Grammatical knowledgeissubconscious

19. Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p. 5. Associate • Grammars change over time. • All grammars are equal. • All languages have a grammar. • Grammatical knowledge is subconscious. • Grammars are alike in basic ways. Generality: Parity: Universality: Mutability: Inaccessibility:

20. Contemporary Linguistics Analysis: p. 5. Define each • Generality: • All languages have a grammar • Parity: • All grammars are equal • Universality: • Grammars are alike in basic ways • Mutability: • Grammars change over time • Inaccessibility: • Grammatical knowledge is subconscious

21. What you should know: • Linguistics • Fields of linguistics (handout and in class) • Descriptive linguistics • Applied linguistics FIELDS OF LINGUISTICS (handout and Powerpoint)

22. Fields of Linguistics THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS APPLIED LINGUISTICS • Computational linguistics • Morphology • Neurolinguistics • Phonology • Pragmatics • Psycholinguistics • Semantics • Sociolinguistics • Syntax

23. Fields of Linguistics THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS b) Morphology d) Phonology e) Pragmatics g) Semantics i) Syntax APPLIED LINGUISTICS a) Computational linguistics c) Neurolinguistics f) Psycholinguistics h) Sociolinguistics

24. What you should know: • Sounds of English • Consonants, vowels & glides • IPA symbols general • Consonants PHONETICS: A Brief Introduction (Handout and Powerpoint)

25. Phonetic Practice • Read these words phonetically and write them out using conventional English spelling. • [mit] • [ ʃuz] • [skul] • [mjuzɪk] • MEAT • SHOES • SCHOOL • MUSIC

26. Phonetic Practice • Fill in the missing symbols. • Cartoons = [ _ ɑ _ _ u _ _ ] • Singing = [ _ ɪ _ ɪ _ ] • English = [ɪ__ _ ɪ_] • Cheese = [_ _ _ _ ] • [ k ɑ r t u n z ] • [ s ɪ ŋ ɪ ŋ ] • [ ɪ ŋ g l ɪ ʃ ] • [ t ʃ i z ]

27. IPA Consonants Examples

28. IPA Vowels (examples)

29. IPA Vowels (Diphthongs)

30. IPA Glides (examples)