4 Questions
Match the following terms with their corresponding descriptions:
Patterning = English places firm restrictions on which items can occur together and the order in which they come. Structure-dependency = Language operations are structure-dependent, relying on an understanding of the internal structure of a sentence. Word combinations = There is a fixed set of possibilities for the substitution of items in a sentence. Language design features = Language can be regarded as an intricate network of interrelated elements.
Match the following sentences with their correct structures:
The penguin squawked = It squawked It squawked = The penguin which slipped on the ice squawked The woman open the door = The womaned open the door The student next door open the door = The studented next door open the door
Match the following actions with their outcomes:
The burglar sneezed loudly = A robber coughed softly A robber coughed softly = That cat hissed noisily The penguin squawked = It squawked The woman open the door = The womaned open the door
Match the following sentence transformations with their correct forms:
I open the door. (I opened the door) = * The student next door open the door. (The studented next door open the door) *The woman open the door. (the womaned open the door) = * The student next door open the door. (The studented next door open the door) -I open the door. (I opened the door) = * The student next door open the door. (The studented next door open the door)
Study Notes
Human Language vs Animal Communication
- Human language has no inherent link between the signal (word) and the meaning, making it arbitrary.
- Exceptions to arbitrariness are onomatopoeic words, such as "quack" or "beep", which imitate the sound they describe.
Arbitrariness
- There is no intrinsic connection between the word 'lion' and the meaning of lion.
Need for Learning
- Animals are born with the ability to communicate without learning, whereas humans require a long learning process to acquire language.
- Humans brought up in isolation do not acquire language, highlighting the importance of cultural transmission.
Duality
- Human language is organized into two layers: a layer of sound (physical) and the layer of units, known as duality or double articulation.
- Animals using vocal signals have a limited stock of basic sounds, varying by species (e.g., cows have under 10, chickens have 20, dolphins have between 20 and 30).
Human Language Design Features
- American linguist Charles Hockett identified design features of human language and compared them to animal communication systems.
- The use of sound signals is not unique to humans, as many species use sound to communicate.
Use of Sound Signals
- Humans may have acquired language later in their evolution, as speech organs have basic functions like eating or breathing.
- The use of speech sounds is not a design feature unique to human language.
Test your knowledge on the concept of arbitrariness in human language, where there is no inherent connection between symbols and their meanings. Explore the role of onomatopoeic words and the design feature of arbitrariness in language. Delve into the necessity of learning in human communication.
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