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Questions and Answers
What is the primary definition of communication?
What is the primary definition of communication?
Which of the following features best describes 'displacement' in language?
Which of the following features best describes 'displacement' in language?
What does the term 'arbitrariness' in language imply?
What does the term 'arbitrariness' in language imply?
Which feature of language refers to the ability to create new words and meanings?
Which feature of language refers to the ability to create new words and meanings?
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Cultural Transmission in language indicates that:
Cultural Transmission in language indicates that:
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Which of the following is NOT a feature of human language?
Which of the following is NOT a feature of human language?
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Why are onomatopoeic words considered exceptions in the rule of arbitrariness?
Why are onomatopoeic words considered exceptions in the rule of arbitrariness?
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What historical factor influenced the Jamaican Language Situation?
What historical factor influenced the Jamaican Language Situation?
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What is the primary focus of phonology in a language?
What is the primary focus of phonology in a language?
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What aspect of language does morphology specifically address?
What aspect of language does morphology specifically address?
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Which of the following is NOT a property that must be present for a code to be considered a language?
Which of the following is NOT a property that must be present for a code to be considered a language?
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What is the main feature of syntax in language?
What is the main feature of syntax in language?
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An example of a lexical item in Jamaican Creole is?
An example of a lexical item in Jamaican Creole is?
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Which term describes the smallest unit of linguistic meaning?
Which term describes the smallest unit of linguistic meaning?
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What does the concept of learnability refer to in language acquisition?
What does the concept of learnability refer to in language acquisition?
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What does the term 'prevarication' imply in language use?
What does the term 'prevarication' imply in language use?
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Which function of language is primarily associated with conveying information?
Which function of language is primarily associated with conveying information?
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What purpose does language serve when used in diaries and journals?
What purpose does language serve when used in diaries and journals?
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Which of the following is an example of language serving metalinguistic purposes?
Which of the following is an example of language serving metalinguistic purposes?
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What is a characteristic of language used for phatic purposes?
What is a characteristic of language used for phatic purposes?
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Which semantic meaning differs between Jamaican Creole and English?
Which semantic meaning differs between Jamaican Creole and English?
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What is the primary objective of using language for cognitive purposes?
What is the primary objective of using language for cognitive purposes?
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Which of the following is NOT an example of the reflective function of language?
Which of the following is NOT an example of the reflective function of language?
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Which of the following is a key purpose of informative language?
Which of the following is a key purpose of informative language?
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What role does language play in the process of recalling memories?
What role does language play in the process of recalling memories?
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Which of the following best describes the expressive function of language?
Which of the following best describes the expressive function of language?
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What is a characteristic of the ritual function of language?
What is a characteristic of the ritual function of language?
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How does language serve a social or identifying function?
How does language serve a social or identifying function?
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What was the primary influence on the development of Jamaican Creole?
What was the primary influence on the development of Jamaican Creole?
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Why might individuals repeating ritual language lack understanding?
Why might individuals repeating ritual language lack understanding?
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What was the status of English in the context of Jamaican slavery?
What was the status of English in the context of Jamaican slavery?
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What does the social function of language NOT include?
What does the social function of language NOT include?
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What best defines the term 'Pidgin'?
What best defines the term 'Pidgin'?
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Which of the following reflects a dialectal difference in vocabulary between American and British English?
Which of the following reflects a dialectal difference in vocabulary between American and British English?
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Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a Creole language?
Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a Creole language?
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What is a common misconception about dialects?
What is a common misconception about dialects?
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Which example illustrates a dialect variation in the Anglophone Caribbean?
Which example illustrates a dialect variation in the Anglophone Caribbean?
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Which factor is essential for the formation of a Pidgin language?
Which factor is essential for the formation of a Pidgin language?
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What distinguishes a dialect from a standard language?
What distinguishes a dialect from a standard language?
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Which statement accurately describes the lifespan of Pidgins?
Which statement accurately describes the lifespan of Pidgins?
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Study Notes
Communication Defined
- Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages.
- Communication involves exchanging thoughts, opinions, and information.
- Communication can be done through various media: written, oral, visual, and computerized.
What is Language?
- Language is a system of communication.
- It is an innate ability shared by all humans.
Features of Human Language
- Displacement: Ability to talk about past, future, real or unreal situations, not just the present.
- Arbitrariness: No inherent connection between the form and meaning of a word.
- Productivity: An unlimited potential for new utterances, words, and meanings.
- Cultural Transmission: Language is acquired through social interaction, not solely genetics.
- Duality: Language operates on two levels: meaningless units like letters and phonemes, and meaningful units created by combining them.
- Prevarication: Humans can use language to deceive.
- Learnability: Humans can learn any number of languages beyond their native tongue.
- Reciprocity: Speakers are also receivers of information.
Properties of Language
- Phonology: The system of sounds in a language, including their inventory, combination rules, and pronunciation.
- Lexicon: The vocabulary of a language.
- Morphology: The structure of words, including rules for word formation.
- Syntax: The rules of sentence formation, essentially the language's grammar.
- Semantics: The study of word and sentence meaning.
Purposes of Language
- Expressive: Expressing personal feelings, ideas, and attitudes without necessarily influencing an audience.
- Informative: Conveying information to others.
- Cognitive: Influencing and evoking a response in an audience.
- Phatic: Establishing and maintaining social contact.
- Metalinguistic: Commenting on, referring to, or discussing language itself.
Functions of Language
- Communicative: The primary function, transmitting information, ideas, and thoughts.
- Reflective: Allows for introspection and analysis, focusing on the past to plan for the future.
- Expressive: Language as a means of self-expression, a release for emotions and attitudes.
- Ritual: Used in ceremonies, involving prescribed language and repetition of familiar phrases.
- Social/Identifying: Language functions to express solidarity, distance, self-identity, and group affiliation.
Development of Jamaican Creole
- Jamaican Creole arose from contact between English and West African languages.
- It developed in the context of slavery where enslaved Africans were forced to learn English.
Jamaican Language Situation
- Jamaican Standard English is the standard variety used for official purposes, education, government, courts, and mass media.
- Jamaican Creole is widely spoken and understood, though it may be considered non-standard.
Dialectal Differences
- Vocabulary: Different words used for the same concept in American English vs. British English.
- Spelling: Variations in spelling between American English and British English.
- Dialectal Variation Across the Anglophone Caribbean: Different words and phrases used in different islands for similar concepts.
Pidgin
- A simplified language developed between groups that do not share a common language, especially for trade.
- Key elements for Pidgin formation: prolonged contact, need for communication, absence of a widespread inter-language.
Creole
- A pidgin language that evolves into a first language for a new generation.
- Not all pidgins become creoles, some may die out.
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Description
This quiz explores the basics of communication, including its definitions, methods, and the features that characterize human language. Participants will learn about the distinct qualities of language and how it functions as a system of communication. Test your understanding of these foundational concepts!