Introduction to Linguistics

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Questions and Answers

What did the man do with the living creatures brought to him?

He trained them for specific tasks.

He named each one according to his judgment. (correct)

He released them back into the wild.

He studied their behaviors in detail.

According to the Hindu tradition, who created the Sanskrit language?

Vishnu, the preserver God.

Brahma, the creator God.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts. (correct)

What was the outcome of Psamtik's experiment with isolated infants?

They remained completely silent throughout the duration.

They communicated with the goats using gestures.

They spoke a word from the Phrygian language. (correct)

They created a new language unique to their environment.

What is one of the main beliefs about children growing up without language exposure?

They will spontaneously speak the original language given by God. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did Psamtik reach about the original language based on his experiment?

It must have been the Phrygian language. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the final grade is determined by attendance?

15% Signup and view all the answers

Which of these areas is NOT typically classified under the study of linguistics?

Cognitive psychology Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of generative linguistics?

Universal Grammar Signup and view all the answers

What grade is required on the final test to pass the course?

60% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following aspects of language is learned after the age of three according to the course outline?

Vocabulary Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the study of language use in context?

Pragmatics Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of neurolinguistics as outlined in the course?

To understand brain injuries and their effects on communication Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language is classified under morphology?

The structure of words Signup and view all the answers

What does the innateness hypothesis suggest about our capacity for language?

It is an inborn capability. Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis suggests a biological basis for language acquisition?

The genetic source Signup and view all the answers

Children who are hearing children of deaf parents are likely to become what?

Bilingual in both sign and spoken languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the phrase 'one single mutation' in the context of language development?

A specific genetic change may have facilitated our ability to develop language. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a hypothesis for the origin of language?

The cultural transmission source Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis suggests that language originated from cries of emotion?

Social interaction source hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of the theory that language originated from onomatopoeic words?

Most language consists of arbitrary words. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the yo-he-ho theory?

Speech developed from social calls made during group efforts. Signup and view all the answers

What anatomical changes contributed to human speech production?

Combination of upright posture and bipedal locomotion Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the social interaction source theory regarding animal communication?

Animals also produce social calls without developing speech. Signup and view all the answers

Which argument suggests that language has an arbitrary nature?

Identical words can have different meanings in different languages. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly reflects evidence for language evolution in humans?

Skull comparisons indicate distinct differences in speech capacity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these explains why cries of emotion unlikely represent the origins of language?

These cries contain sounds absent in human speech. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary conclusion drawn from Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II's experiment with babies?

None of the children survived. Signup and view all the answers

In King James IV's experiment, what language did the children reportedly begin to speak after two years?

Hebrew Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a child being deprived of any exposure to language during their early years?

They will acquire vocabulary but not grammar. Signup and view all the answers

What does the bow-wow theory explain?

The existence of onomatopoeic words in languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant critique of the language deprivation experiments like those by Frederick II and King James IV?

They underestimate the power of innate language acquisition. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon is exemplified by onomatopoeic words such as 'screech' and 'boom'?

Imitation of natural sounds by humans. Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis discusses the impact of age on language acquisition?

Critical Period Hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What group of children provides key insights into language acquisition challenges when isolated from normal development?

Feral children Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introducing Linguistics

Linguistics: the study of language.
Generative linguistics focuses on the Universal Grammar, a language faculty in the brain allowing individuals to acquire any language's grammatical system.
Applied linguistics utilizes linguistic knowledge for practical purposes.

Areas of Linguistics

Key areas include syntax, phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, computational linguistics, historical linguistics, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics.

The Origins of Language: Divine Source

The Hindu tradition attributes the origins of language to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom.
According to the Upanishads, Saraswati created Sanskrit and bestowed it upon humans.
The concept of a God-given language led to historical experiments.

The Origins of Language: Divine Source - Experiments

Psamtik (Ancient Egypt): Believed the original language was Phrygian. Two infants raised in isolation by a shepherd are reported to have spoken "bekos", the Phrygian word for bread. However, this experiment is flawed due to the minimal exposure to language and limited data.
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (13th Century): Attempted to discover the original language by isolating infants from any language exposure. However, none of the children survived due to the severe deprivation.
King James IV of Scotland (1500s): Similar experiment with two infants raised in isolation by a mute woman, resulting in the claim that they spoke Hebrew. However, the experiment is unreliable based on the lack of detailed records and potential imitations of natural sounds.

Issues with The Divine Source Hypothesis

Language deprivation in early years prevents the acquisition of any language.
Universal Grammar and the critical period hypothesis: Language acquisition is biologically predisposed and requires exposure during a specific window in early childhood.
Feral children, like 'Genie' in the 1960s, highlight the crucial role of early language exposure for language development.

The Origins of Language: Natural Sound Source

Early words may have originated from imitations of natural sounds.
This theory called the bow-wow theory explains the existence of onomatopoeic words, which are present across languages.

The yo-he-ho theory postulates that language developed from sounds used to coordinate activities within groups, like grunts or cries.
Emphasizes the social context of language development, but does not explain the origins of these sounds.

The Origins of Language: Physical Adaptation Source

Connected to evolutionary changes, particularly the development of upright posture, bipedal locomotion, and a new role for the limbs.
This theory suggests these physical changes enabled speech production.
Evidence comes from comparative studies on the skulls of gorillas versus Neanderthals.

The Origins of Language: Genetic Source

Hypothesizes that a single mutation or a series of changes over time facilitated the capacity for language.
This involves the genetic programming of the brain for language.
The search for a specific "language gene" is ongoing.

The Origins of Language: Evaluation of Hypotheses

The divine source, natural sound source, social interaction source, physical adaptation source, tool-making source, and genetic source all offer potential explanations for the origins of language, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The Origins of Language: Aliens?

While a humorous note, the text acknowledges the complexity and ongoing debate surrounding the origins of human language.

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamentals of linguistics, including its key areas like syntax and phonetics, as well as the concept of Universal Grammar in generative linguistics. It also delves into the divine origins of language as attributed to cultural traditions like those in Hinduism. Test your understanding of these essential linguistic concepts!