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Questions and Answers
What is a distinctive feature of human language that allows for communication while performing other actions?
What is a distinctive feature of human language that allows for communication while performing other actions?
What is a key difference between human language and some animal languages?
What is a key difference between human language and some animal languages?
What is a characteristic of human language that enables users to monitor and correct their speech?
What is a characteristic of human language that enables users to monitor and correct their speech?
What is an example of a language that exhibits arbitrariness?
What is an example of a language that exhibits arbitrariness?
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What is a characteristic of human language that allows for the transmission of knowledge and culture across generations?
What is a characteristic of human language that allows for the transmission of knowledge and culture across generations?
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What is a feature of human language that allows for the creation of novel expressions and meanings?
What is a feature of human language that allows for the creation of novel expressions and meanings?
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What is unique to humans among the language features mentioned in the text?
What is unique to humans among the language features mentioned in the text?
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What is an example of displacement language in animals mentioned in the text?
What is an example of displacement language in animals mentioned in the text?
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What is a characteristic of human language that allows for infinite sentence length?
What is a characteristic of human language that allows for infinite sentence length?
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What is a characteristic of animal communication mentioned in the text?
What is a characteristic of animal communication mentioned in the text?
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What type of dance does a bee perform to communicate the location and quality of nectar within 1 m of the hive?
What type of dance does a bee perform to communicate the location and quality of nectar within 1 m of the hive?
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What is a characteristic of human language that allows for Creativity?
What is a characteristic of human language that allows for Creativity?
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What is the primary way fluent speakers combine words according to language rules?
What is the primary way fluent speakers combine words according to language rules?
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What is the term for a group of words that can be substituted for a single word in a sentence?
What is the term for a group of words that can be substituted for a single word in a sentence?
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What is the process called when a speaker moves a phrase or word to a different position in a sentence?
What is the process called when a speaker moves a phrase or word to a different position in a sentence?
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What is the fundamental aspect of human language that allows for the creation of complex sentences?
What is the fundamental aspect of human language that allows for the creation of complex sentences?
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What is unique about the communication systems of animals compared to human language?
What is unique about the communication systems of animals compared to human language?
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What is the role of rules in forming linguistic units such as words, phrases, and sentences?
What is the role of rules in forming linguistic units such as words, phrases, and sentences?
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What is the term for the abstract, underlying patterns that govern language formation?
What is the term for the abstract, underlying patterns that govern language formation?
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What is the common attribute of the words 'sel', 'salt', and 'sout' in their respective languages?
What is the common attribute of the words 'sel', 'salt', and 'sout' in their respective languages?
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What is unclear about an animal's sign or signal?
What is unclear about an animal's sign or signal?
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What is the term for the ability of language units to be recombined in different orders?
What is the term for the ability of language units to be recombined in different orders?
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What is a characteristic of human language acquisition?
What is a characteristic of human language acquisition?
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What is a feature of animal communication systems that differs from human language?
What is a feature of animal communication systems that differs from human language?
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Which birds are known to require social teaching to learn their song?
Which birds are known to require social teaching to learn their song?
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Study Notes
Distinctive Features of Human Language
- Allows communication while engaging in other activities, enabling multitasking.
- Capable of self-monitoring and correcting errors in real-time during speech.
- Creativity permits the formation of novel expressions and meaningful combinations.
- Infinite sentence length is achievable through flexible word arrangement.
Differences Between Human and Animal Language
- Human language uniquely enables transmission of knowledge and culture through generations.
- Communication systems in animals lack the complexity and nuanced structure found in human languages.
Arbitrariness and Displacement
- An example of arbitrariness is language where symbols do not inherently relate to their meanings.
- Displacement language example in animals includes calls that refer to past or future events, transcending immediate contexts.
Linguistic Structure and Rules
- Fluent speakers combine words according to syntactic rules to create coherent sentences.
- A phrase that substitutes for a single word is termed a "phrase substitute."
- Moving a phrase or word within a sentence for emphasis or clarity is known as "reordering."
Patterns and Acquisition
- The fundamental aspect enabling complex sentence formation is the ability to manipulate language structures.
- The term for abstract patterns governing language formation is "grammar."
- Language acquisition in humans is characterized by an innate ability to learn.
Animal Communication Features
- Animal communication systems often lack the generative aspects that define human language.
- Social learning is noted in specific birds that require interaction to develop their singing abilities.
Bee Communication
- Bees perform a "waggle dance" to convey information about nectar's location and quality, effective within 1 meter of the hive.
Language Systems and Characteristics
- Human language allows for reordering and recombination of language units for diverse expression.
- Words sharing similar forms, like 'sel', 'salt', and 'sout', exhibit common phonetic attributes across different languages.
- Ambiguity in animal signals often leaves their intent unclear, contrasting with the specificity of human communication.
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Description
This quiz covers the typical features of human language, including the use of vocal-auditory channels, total feedback, arbitrariness, and more. Test your knowledge of the characteristics that define human language.
