Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of Hockett's design features of language allows humans to create an infinite number of different messages by combining and recombining discrete parts?
Which of Hockett's design features of language allows humans to create an infinite number of different messages by combining and recombining discrete parts?
- Reflexiveness
- Displacement
- Productivity (correct)
- Duality of patterning
According to Hockett's design features, animal communication systems are as open-ended and creative as human language.
According to Hockett's design features, animal communication systems are as open-ended and creative as human language.
False (B)
What is Hockett's term for the ability to discuss things that are not immediately present?
What is Hockett's term for the ability to discuss things that are not immediately present?
Displacement
__________ refers to the ability to use language to talk about language itself.
__________ refers to the ability to use language to talk about language itself.
Match the following Hockett's design features of language with their descriptions:
Match the following Hockett's design features of language with their descriptions:
Which design feature of language is most closely associated with the systematic recombination of elements to create new forms?
Which design feature of language is most closely associated with the systematic recombination of elements to create new forms?
Traditional transmission refers to the idea that language acquisition is solely a genetic phenomenon, not influenced by cultural or social factors.
Traditional transmission refers to the idea that language acquisition is solely a genetic phenomenon, not influenced by cultural or social factors.
According to the content, what is required for 'true lying' to occur, differentiating it from deceptive behaviour in animals?
According to the content, what is required for 'true lying' to occur, differentiating it from deceptive behaviour in animals?
The ability to create new words and expressions based on existing linguistic patterns is known as _________.
The ability to create new words and expressions based on existing linguistic patterns is known as _________.
Match the following terms with the correct description:
Match the following terms with the correct description:
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'duality of patterning' in language?
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'duality of patterning' in language?
Bees are capable of communicating about past food sources using Hockett's displacement design feature.
Bees are capable of communicating about past food sources using Hockett's displacement design feature.
What term describes the ability to use language to reflect and comment on language itself?
What term describes the ability to use language to reflect and comment on language itself?
The __________ design feature of language explains how children learn language through social interaction within their communities.
The __________ design feature of language explains how children learn language through social interaction within their communities.
Which of the following is an example of prevarication in animal behavior?
Which of the following is an example of prevarication in animal behavior?
The 'moo' of a cow demonstrates duality of patterning because it can be broken down into smaller meaningful units.
The 'moo' of a cow demonstrates duality of patterning because it can be broken down into smaller meaningful units.
What makes the potential for producing new meanings in human language potentially infinite?
What makes the potential for producing new meanings in human language potentially infinite?
The design feature called __________ allows honeybees to communicate the location of food sources.
The design feature called __________ allows honeybees to communicate the location of food sources.
Which of Hockett's design features is exemplified by the fact that the English sounds represented by , , and can be combined to form words like 'sat,' 'tats,' and 'task'?
Which of Hockett's design features is exemplified by the fact that the English sounds represented by , , and can be combined to form words like 'sat,' 'tats,' and 'task'?
If a child is raised in complete isolation from adults, they will instinctively develop a normal, functional language.
If a child is raised in complete isolation from adults, they will instinctively develop a normal, functional language.
Flashcards
Duality of Patterning
Duality of Patterning
Language is organized at the level of forms and meanings; sounds combine into meaningful sequences.
Productivity (in language)
Productivity (in language)
The ability to create new expressions and utterances, plus new words, from existing language elements.
Open Systems (Language)
Open Systems (Language)
Human languages have a hierarchical structure being open systems capable of infinite messages via recombination.
Displacement (in language)
Displacement (in language)
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Reflexiveness (in language)
Reflexiveness (in language)
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Traditional Transmission
Traditional Transmission
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Lying (Theory of Mind)
Lying (Theory of Mind)
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Prevarication (Animals)
Prevarication (Animals)
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Study Notes
Hockett’s Design Features of Language
- Charles Hockett, an American linguist, created a list of features to highlight the differences between human and animal communication in the 1960s.
- While many features are shared with animals (especially primates), the combination of all these features makes human language unique.
Duality of Patterning
- Language is organized at the level of forms (sounds) and meanings.
- Sounds can be combined into meaningful sequences (e.g., , , form as, at, sat, ta, tat, tats).
- The recombination of sounds allows for the creation of many different words.
Productivity
- Productivity is the ability to formulate new expressions based on existing words and sentence patterns.
- Speakers can create new words, and the potential for new meanings is infinite due to the rich possibilities for recombining elements.
- Animal communication systems have limited, fixed calls, unlike the open-ended nature of human language.
Language Structure
- Human language combines discrete units of sound to form meaningful signs (words), which then form larger structures (sentences).
- This hierarchical structure and open system allow for an infinite number of messages.
- Animal signals can't be broken down in the same way.
Displacement
- Displacement allows discussion of things not present, including past, future, physically absent, nonexistent, or no longer existing items.
- Bees can communicate the location of food, but they can’t discuss past pollen patches or food sources.
Reflexiveness
- Reflexiveness is using language to talk about language.
- People can reflect on their language using a metalanguage, a set of concepts and labels for discussing language.
- Other communication systems don't appear to involve self-reflection on how and why communication occurs.
Traditional Transmission
- Children learn language through socialization within their families and communities.
- Language transmission is a cultural phenomenon, not just genetic.
- Animal communication is generally instinctive and genetically predisposed.
- Animals rely less on learning to communicate from others, unlike humans.
- Children raised in isolation don't instinctively develop language.
Prevarication
- Prevarication refers to the ability to lie.
- Deceptive animal behavior differs from lying, which requires a theory of mind.
- Lying involves understanding that the target can be influenced into believing something false.
- The liar intends to create a false belief in the target's mind.
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