Descriptive Linguistics Flashcards

Descriptive Linguistics

• Descriptive linguistics focuses on how language is actually used in everyday communication.

Historical Linguistics

• Examines the evolution of languages and their origins over time.

Socio-Linguistics

• Studies human language usage and how miscommunication can occur in social contexts.

Linguistic Signs

• Consist of a form (signifier) and meaning (signified).
• Example: The word "CAT" combines the phonemes C, A, and T to convey meaning.

Open Communication

• Allows for the creation of new words and grammatical rules, demonstrating that language is fluid.

Closed Communication

• Characterized by fixed communication forms with limited flexibility in expression.

Charles Hockett

• Noted linguist who developed a list of design features of human language.

Design Features of Human Language

• Includes key concepts: Displacement, Productivity, Prevarication, and Meta-Language.

Displacement

• Refers to the capability to discuss concepts or entities that are not present.

Productivity

• Human language is dynamic, involving constant creation and alteration of language systems.

Prevarication

• The ability to communicate false information or lies.

Meta-Language

• The use of language to discuss and describe language itself.

Broca's Area

• Brain region associated with speech production.

Wernicke's Area

• Brain region linked to speech comprehension.

Grammar: Mental

• Refers to the cognitive organization of thoughts.

Grammar: Descriptive

• System of rules derived from real speech usage analyzed by linguists.

Grammar: Prescriptive

• Socially acceptable grammar rules developed by cultural norms.

Phoneme

• The smallest unit of speech sound, acting as a mental sound template.

Morpheme

• Ahows how phonemes combine to create meaningful units in language.

Semantics

• The branch of linguistics that studies the meanings of words within a language.

Syntax

• Involves the arrangement and order of words and phrases to create sentences.

Pragmatics

• Explores how context influences the correct use of language in communication.

Non-Human Primate Research: Vervet Monkeys

• Employ a system of alarm calls to indicate danger, demonstrating basic communication.
• Exhibit prevarication by misleading through alarm calls to benefit from food access.
• Show productivity with new alarm calls but lack displacement.

Non-Human Primate Research: Koko

• A gorilla trained in American Sign Language who could generate new signs and discuss absent objects.
• Lacked evidence of meta-language abilities and could only communicate with humans.

Non-Human Primate Research: Kanzi

• A bonobo using lexigrams, showing some understanding of syntax through commands but primarily imitating.

How Language Evolved: Symbols

• Language symbols have their roots in nature and represent concepts.

How Language Evolved: Syntax

• Emergence of syntax through the categorization of symbols fosters coherent communication.

How Language Evolved: Brains/Anatomy

• Specific anatomical structures in the brain and throat are essential for language development.

Evidence for Early Language Evolution

• Ralp Halloway and Dean Falk propose early language use occurring 2-1.5 million years ago with species like A. africanus and H. habilis, inferred from brain endocasts and tool usage.

Evidence for Late Language Evolution

• Research by Matt Cartmill and Baruch Arensburg suggests that Neanderthals demonstrated language capacities post-300,000 years ago, supported by modern anatomical structures.
• Philip Lieberman indicates that modern Homo sapiens, around 100,000 years ago, had vocal tracts suitable for speech that Neanderthals lacked.