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Questions and Answers
What process involves forming new words by borrowing from other languages?
What process involves forming new words by borrowing from other languages?
Which process involves combining two separate words into one single form?
Which process involves combining two separate words into one single form?
What is the term for the process where a word is reduced to a shorter form?
What is the term for the process where a word is reduced to a shorter form?
What is the term for forming new words by adding affixes like prefixes and suffixes?
What is the term for forming new words by adding affixes like prefixes and suffixes?
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Which method of forming new words involves the invention of completely new terms?
Which method of forming new words involves the invention of completely new terms?
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Which word formation process involves a change in the functional category of a word?
Which word formation process involves a change in the functional category of a word?
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What is the main difference between communicative signals and informative signals?
What is the main difference between communicative signals and informative signals?
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Which property of human language allows them to talk about things and events not present in the immediate context?
Which property of human language allows them to talk about things and events not present in the immediate context?
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What property of human language refers to the lack of a natural connection between its linguistic form and meaning?
What property of human language refers to the lack of a natural connection between its linguistic form and meaning?
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Which property of human language allows them to continuously create new expressions to describe objects and situations?
Which property of human language allows them to continuously create new expressions to describe objects and situations?
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What is the term used to describe the passing on of language from one generation to another in a speech community?
What is the term used to describe the passing on of language from one generation to another in a speech community?
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Which property of human language involves having different forms or sounds that have distinct meanings?
Which property of human language involves having different forms or sounds that have distinct meanings?
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Study Notes
Word Formation Processes
- Borrowing: Involves forming new words by adopting terms from other languages.
- Compounding: Combines two separate words to create a new single form.
- Clipping: Reduces a word to a shorter form, often by removing syllables.
- Affixation: Creates new words through the addition of prefixes and suffixes to existing words.
- Neologism: The invention of completely new terms or expressions.
- Conversion: Changes the functional category of a word, such as turning a noun into a verb.
Properties of Human Language
- Communicative Signals vs. Informative Signals: The main difference lies in intent; communicative signals are designed for interaction, while informative signals convey information without the intention of interaction.
- Displacement: The capacity of human language to discuss things and events that are not present in the immediate context, allowing for abstract thought.
- Arbitrariness: Refers to the lack of a natural connection between the form of a word and its meaning, emphasizing that words have meanings assigned by social convention.
- Productivity: The ability of human language to continuously create new expressions to describe objects, events, and situations, showcasing creativity in communication.
- Cultural Transmission: Describes the process of passing language from one generation to another within a speech community, crucial for language preservation.
- Duality of Structure: Involves having different forms or sounds that convey distinct meanings, a characteristic feature of human language systems.
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Description
Test your knowledge on communicative and informative signals in animal and human communication, as well as the innateness hypothesis related to human language acquisition.
