General Linguistics Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which branch of linguistics focuses on the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences?

  • Syntax (correct)
  • Phonetics
  • Morphology
  • Semantics

    • Phonology and phonetics are the same concepts within linguistics.

    False

    What term describes the scientific study of meaning in language?

    Semantics

    The study of how language is affected by the situation in which it is used is called _____ .

    <p>pragmatics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following linguistic branches to their descriptions:

    <p>Historical = Investigates the historical development of languages Descriptive = Describes how languages actually function Theoretical = Focuses on pure theories without practical application Applied = Involves the practical application of linguistic theories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements best describes the concept of duality of patterning?

    <p>Language is a system composed of both meaningful and meaningless units.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Micro linguistics takes a broader view of language systems compared to macro linguistics.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of morphology in linguistics?

    <p>The structure and formation of words</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic allows humans to communicate about things that are not present?

    <p>Displacement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Human language is structure dependent, meaning that its understanding relies on the number of elements involved.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the meaningful distinctiveness of sounds in language?

    <p>discreteness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Humans use the vocal-auditory channel for linguistic communication, which is generated via the __________ and perceived through the __________.

    <p>vocal organs; ears</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of linguistic signals in human communication?

    <p>To communicate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following characteristics of language with their definitions:

    <p>Displacement = Ability to talk about absent things Reciprocity = Interchangeable roles of speaker and listener Specialization = Signals solely for communication Rapid fade = Signals that disappear quickly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does context influence language?

    <p>It relies on shared knowledge between speaker and hearer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The elements that link expression and meaning in language are called __________.

    <p>grammar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes communicative competence?

    <p>The implicit knowledge that underlines the appropriate use of grammatical competence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Structuralism emphasizes understanding elements of culture in isolation.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is known as the father of European Structuralism?

    <p>Saussure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The abstract system of rules that every speaker of a language shares is referred to as ______.

    <p>langue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Langue = Language system shared by native speakers Parole = Individual utterances produced by speakers Structuralism = The study of the relationship between formal units in language Saussure = Father of contemporary linguistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'parole' refer to in linguistics?

    <p>Individual realizations and actual use of language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Saussure, linguists should focus primarily on parole rather than langue.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'dichotomies' refer to in the context of Saussure's work?

    <p>Binary divisions in the essence of language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the paradigmatic axis of language refer to?

    <p>Substitutional relations between linguistic units.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Bloomfield's approach to linguistic analysis focused primarily on diachronic aspects of language.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is considered the father of modern American linguistics?

    <p>Bloomfield</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Bloomfield, language should be studied like a __________.

    <p>natural science</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of language did Bloomfield's structuralism mainly concentrate on?

    <p>Phonology and morphology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Behaviorism views mental activity, including language, as a set of observable habits.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What methodology did Bloomfield advocate for in linguistic investigation?

    <p>Inductive approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does generative grammar primarily account for?

    <p>All grammatical sequences of a language and those that have not been created yet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Syntactic structures do not influence the phonological representation of sentences.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two forms of sentences according to transformational grammar?

    <p>Deep structure and surface structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ________ component assigns meaning to the abstract structure generated by the syntactic component.

    <p>semantic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the terms to their definitions:

    <p>Chomsky = Advocate for transformational grammar Transformational Grammar = Grammar that includes T-rules Syntactic = Refers to structure and arrangement in sentences Phonological = Focuses on pronunciation of sentences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a function of T-rules in transformational grammar?

    <p>Specifies the meaning of the sentences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Transformational grammar relies solely on the surface structure of sentences.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of taxonomic grammar?

    <p>Organizing utterances in descriptive patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which maxim is being violated when a response lacks sufficient information?

    <p>Quantity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The cooperative principle suggests that participants in a conversation should always be deceptive.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does implicature refer to in conversation?

    <p>An unstated additional meaning conveyed through violation of a maxim.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The maxim of ______ requires that contributions to a conversation be relevant.

    <p>Relation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match each maxim with its description:

    <p>Quantity = Provide enough information but not more than necessary. Quality = Provide truthful and accurate information. Relation = Ensure contributions are relevant. Manner = Avoid ambiguity and be clear in communication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might indicate a violation of the Manner maxim?

    <p>Answering in a confused or unclear way.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The cooperative principle is universally applicable to all forms of communication.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one example that illustrates a violation of the Quality maxim.

    <p>Sarcastic responses that contradict the truth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    General Linguistics Summary

    • Linguistics is the scientific study of language, relying on empirical data and objective descriptions.
    • It utilizes a technical vocabulary and focuses on language structures.
    • Language is a system of conventional vocal signs for human communication.
    • Language is patterned; it involves rules and patterns for organizing words.
    • Language demonstrates duality of patterning with meaningful and meaningless units.

    Branches of Linguistics

    • Phonetics: Studies and classifies speech sounds.
    • Phonology: Examines sound systems within or across languages.
    • Morphology: Investigates how meaningful parts form words.
    • Syntax: Describes the arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences.
    • Semantics: Studies the meaning of language.
    • Pragmatics: Explores how context influences language use.

    Unique Properties of Language

    • Arbitrariness: No inherent connection between a sign and its meaning.
    • Duality: Language has two levels: sounds (phonemes) and meaningful units.
    • Creativity/Productivity: Humans can create novel sentences.
    • Displacement: Communication about things not present.
    • Discreteness: Distinct units in language.
    • Cultural Transmission: Language is learned.

    Structuralism

    • Structuralism was a first movement in linguistics that aimed to understand language as a system of related elements.
    • This movement emphasizes structure and relationships between elements within the system.

    Saussure

    • A key figure in modern linguistics, Saussure focused on language structure.
    • He distinguished langue (abstract system) from parole (actual use).

    Chomsky

    • A prominent figure in linguistics, Chomsky argued for study of language as a mental capacity.
    • Key concepts include an innate grammar system (Universal Grammar) and competence (internal knowledge) vs. performance (actual use).

    Pragmatics

    • Pragmatics studies how context influences meaning and language use.
    • It includes the analysis of speaker intent and how utterances have different interpretations in different situations.
    • Key concepts include speech acts, implicature, and conversational maxims (quality, quantity, relation, manner).

    Speech Acts

    • Speech acts refer to the actions performed through utterances.
    • They describe the function of an utterance based on its intended effects.
    • Types include assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations.

    Question Felicity Conditions

    • Felicity conditions are criteria for a speech act to be properly performed.
    • They are specific to the act being performed (e.g., assertion, request, promise, threat).
    • Questioning involves conditions about the speaker knowing and the hearer's ability to respond.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of linguistics, including its branches and unique properties. Learn about phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, as well as key characteristics like arbitrariness and duality. Test your understanding of how language functions as a system of communication.

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