Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main difference between a vernacular language and a standard language?
What is the main difference between a vernacular language and a standard language?
Lingua franca is a term that originated in the 17th century.
Lingua franca is a term that originated in the 17th century.
True
Define the term 'Creole' with regards to language development.
Define the term 'Creole' with regards to language development.
A Creole is formed when children learn a pidgin language as their first language and it becomes the mother tongue of a community.
The age pattern refers to changes in speech behavior as individuals __________.
The age pattern refers to changes in speech behavior as individuals __________.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the definition of linguistic borrowing?
What is the definition of linguistic borrowing?
Signup and view all the answers
What are some reasons for linguistic borrowing?
What are some reasons for linguistic borrowing?
Signup and view all the answers
Language contact refers to the use of only one language in a particular area or time.
Language contact refers to the use of only one language in a particular area or time.
Signup and view all the answers
Language shift involves a transition toward using the ______ language of a majority.
Language shift involves a transition toward using the ______ language of a majority.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following Language and Gender theories with their descriptions:
Match the following Language and Gender theories with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
Where does the word 'Person' originate from?
Where does the word 'Person' originate from?
Signup and view all the answers
Define Linguistic Imperialism.
Define Linguistic Imperialism.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following types of power with their examples:
Match the following types of power with their examples:
Signup and view all the answers
Noam Chomsky believes that language development is a gradual process.
Noam Chomsky believes that language development is a gradual process.
Signup and view all the answers
Politeness strategies aim to reduce threat to __________ face and __________ face.
Politeness strategies aim to reduce threat to __________ face and __________ face.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two features of human language according to the content?
What are the two features of human language according to the content?
Signup and view all the answers
Which language influenced English by providing over 2,000 new words, including 'give', 'take', 'egg', and 'viking'?
Which language influenced English by providing over 2,000 new words, including 'give', 'take', 'egg', and 'viking'?
Signup and view all the answers
English continued to develop and grow by adopting Latin and French words during the Middle English period.
English continued to develop and grow by adopting Latin and French words during the Middle English period.
Signup and view all the answers
Which dialect gained prominence in Early Modern English, influencing its development?
Which dialect gained prominence in Early Modern English, influencing its development?
Signup and view all the answers
Shakespeare invented at least $______$ words in the English language during the Early Modern English period, including 'alligator', 'puppy dog', and 'fashionable'.
Shakespeare invented at least $______$ words in the English language during the Early Modern English period, including 'alligator', 'puppy dog', and 'fashionable'.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following language branches with their dominant areas:
Match the following language branches with their dominant areas:
Signup and view all the answers
What are the surviving languages belonging to the Romance branch of the Indo-European language family?
What are the surviving languages belonging to the Romance branch of the Indo-European language family?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the surviving languages that came from the Insular Celtic sub-branch?
What are the surviving languages that came from the Insular Celtic sub-branch?
Signup and view all the answers
Which languages are part of the modern survivors from the West Germanic sub-branch?
Which languages are part of the modern survivors from the West Germanic sub-branch?
Signup and view all the answers
Modern Albanian is the official language in Albania and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, Greece, and Southern Italy.
Modern Albanian is the official language in Albania and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, Greece, and Southern Italy.
Signup and view all the answers
The Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family has three sub-branches - West Germanic, North Germanic, and __________.
The Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family has three sub-branches - West Germanic, North Germanic, and __________.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Language Families
- Proto-IndoEuropean is the parent of many language families, including Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian
- Proto-Germanic is another language family, which separated into dialects 500 to 1000 years ago and includes languages like English, Dutch, German, Icelandic, and Swedish
Language Variation
- Everyone speaks at least one language, and most people speak more than one
- No one talks exactly the same way at all times
- Dialects start with the same system, but their histories leave different parts of the parent system intact
Vernacular Languages
- Vernacular refers to the language or dialect spoken by ordinary people in a country or region
- Characteristics of vernacular languages:
- Unstandardized and acquired in the home as a first language
- Used for relatively circumscribed functions
- Can be used to refer to informal and colloquial varieties of language
- Examples of vernacular languages:
- Native language of a country or locality
- Everyday language spoken by a people
- Variety of language specific to a social group or region
Standard Language
- Develops as a result of a sociopolitical process
- Includes both formal and informal varieties
- Characteristics of standard language:
- Written and codified
- Recognized dictionary and grammar
- Standard pronunciation
- Example: Standard English is used in print, taught in schools, and spoken by educated people
Lingua Francas
- First coined in the 17th century by Italians
- Refers to a language used for communication between people of different languages
- Example: English is a common lingua franca today
- Characteristics of English as a lingua franca:
- Differ from Standard English in article usage, preposition usage, and morpheme use
- Incorporates third-person singular usage and lacks gerunds
Pidgin and Creole
- Pidgin is a new language that develops in situations where speakers of different languages need to communicate
- Vocabulary comes mainly from one language (the lexifier)
- Creole is a language that develops when children start learning a pidgin as their first language
- Characteristics of creole:
- Not restricted in use
- Has a full range of functions
Minority Dialects
- Refers to varieties of language used by minority ethnic groups
- Examples:
- African American Vernacular English in the USA
- London Jamaican in Britain
- Aboriginal English in Australia
Indigenized Varieties
- Refers to languages spoken mainly as second languages in ex-colonies with multilingual populations
- Example: Singlish (spoken in Singapore)
Gender, Sex, and Language
- Sex refers to biological characteristics, while gender refers to societal constructions and belief systems
- Gendered language can lead to gender inequality and stereotypes
- Examples of gendered language:
- Mr. and Ms.
- Gender-biased job titles
- Gendered greetings
- Examples of gender-inclusive language:
- Gender-neutral job titles
- Gender-neutral greetings
- Gender-neutral pronouns
Language and Age
- Definition: Age pattern refers to a characteristic type of age-graded linguistic variation
- Characteristics of language and age:
- Adolescents use more non-standard varieties
- Younger adults use more standard forms
- Older adults use more non-standard forms again
- Each new generation of speakers repeats the age pattern
Speech Community
- Definition: A group of people who share linguistic norms and interact with the same speech signals
- Characteristics of speech community:
- At least two members
- Shared linguistic norms and expectations
- Members may belong to other groups and come and go
Linguistic Borrowing
- Definition: The process by which a word from one language is adapted for use in another
- Reasons for borrowing:
- Cultural contact and exchange
- Conquest
- Prestige
- Influence of technology and media
- Convenience
- Changes in vocabulary and speech:
- Phonological adaptation
- Morphological integration
- Syntactical adjustments
- Cultural context in usage
Language Contact
- Definition: The use of more than one language in the same place at the same time
- Effects of language contact:
- Borrowings
- Pidgins and creoles
- Multilingualism
- Bilingualism
- Diglossia
- Social prestige and power
- Examples of language contact:
- Middle English period: French words influenced English
- Portuguese colonization in Sri Lanka: Rise of Sri Lanka Indo-Portuguese
- American colonization in the Philippines: Emergence of Tagalog-English and Bisaya-English### Language and the Family
- In the family setting, mothers are often positioned as the primary caregivers, which can lead to fathers being linguistically assigned a more peripheral role.
- This reinforces the idea that people prioritize the party they believe to be more relevant.
Language and Social Class
- Social class is defined by socioeconomic status and creates distinct language patterns, or sociolects.
- Language awareness involves changing one's language based on negative or positive judgments.
- Examples of language awareness include adapting to a standard accent to get a job (positive judgment) or being hesitant to speak due to fear of judgment (negative judgment).
- Social class influences how people choose to speak to one another, even if they do not recognize it.
Types of Power
- Legitimate power: derived from role, age, status (e.g., elderly people, grandparents, doctors).
- Referent power: based on admiration and respect (e.g., K-Pop, teachers).
- Expert power: based on special knowledge or expertise (e.g., politicians, doctors).
Language, Power, and Politeness
- Politeness is the practical demonstration of good manners or etiquette.
- Politeness theory, developed by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson, posits that individuals possess two distinct types of 'face':
- Positive face: one's desire to be liked and appreciated.
- Negative face: the preservation of personal rights and freedoms.
- There are two types of politeness strategies:
- Positive politeness: involves making someone feel good about themselves.
- Negative politeness: seeks to ensure that the listener does not feel taken advantage of.
- Face-threatening acts can be directed at the listener or speaker, and can lead to discomfort or offense.
Language and Ethnicity
- Language is a means of expressing one's ethnic identity, and an individual's idiolect can convey important characteristics that contribute to their ethnicity.
- Ethnicity has a stronger relationship with language than gender, age, or social class.
- Cultural evolution has contributed to the emergence of distinct languages and ethnicities as humans settled in various areas.
Linguistic Borrowing
- Linguistic borrowing occurs when speakers use words from another language in their own language.
- Lexical borrowing involves incorporating foreign words into a language.
- Examples of borrowed words in English include "person" (from Latin), "very" (from Old French), and "war" (from Old French).
Historical Development of Language
- Human language has two features: vocal properties and generative properties.
- The historical development of language can be explained by successive modification and natural selection.
- Noam Chomsky and Charles Darwin have different perspectives on the historical development of language, reflecting their distinct disciplinary backgrounds and theoretical frameworks.
Development of the English Language
- Old English (450-1000 BCE):
- Started with the arrival of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) who invaded Britain.
- Characterized by a complex system of declensions and conjugations.
- Incorporated Latin loanwords due to Christianization and Scandinavian words due to Viking invasion.
- Middle English (1066-1500):
- Mixed with Old Norse due to Viking invasions.
- Established French as the language of royals and power.
- Borrowed words from Latin and French.
- Early Modern English (1500-1800):
- English became the language of power and influence again.
- Developed through the Renaissance, the invention of printing, and contact with other languages.
- Late Modern English (1800-Present):
- Characterized by a vast expansion of vocabulary due to technological advancements and globalization.### Development of Evolutionary Theory and Print Media
- Introduced terms: natural selection, species, genetics, newspaper, journalism, editor, typewriter, telegram, telegraphy, telephone, cable
The English Language Family Tree
- Part of the Indo-European language family, one of the largest language families in the world
- Indo-European language family has 10 main branches: Anatolian, Albanian, Armenian, Balto-Slavic, Celtic, Greek, Germanic, Indo-Iranian, Italic, and Tocharian
Indo-European Language Family
- Originated in Southern Europe near the Asian border, spreading both East and West
- Mixed with non-European tongues, resulting in different subgroups or branches of language and different dialects
- Hybrid hypothesis for the origin and spread of the Indo-European languages by Max Planck
- Began to diverge around 8100 years ago
- Migrated to the Pontic-Caspian and Forest Steppe around 7000 years ago
- Subsequent migrations spread into parts of Europe around 5000 years ago
Features of Indo-European Languages
- Cognates between Romance and Germanic languages (e.g., mother - English, madre - Spanish and Italian, Mère - French, Mãe - Portuguese, Mutter - German)
- Dual number in Indo-European besides singular and plural
- Different patterns of inflections for different sets of nouns
- Different inflections in adjectives for different cases, numbers, and genders
Branches of Indo-European Languages
- Anatolian: Dominant in Turkey's Asian portion and northern Syria; extinct languages include Lydian, Lycian, Palaic, and Luvian
- Indo-Iranian:
- Two sub-branches: Iranian and Indic
- Spoken in Iran, Pakistan, and India, and areas close to these countries
- Sanskrit belongs to the Indic sub-branch
- Oldest variety is Vedic Sanskrit, used in the Vedas (Ancient India's collections of religious texts and hymns)
- Greek:
- Collection of different dialects
- Over 3,000 years of written history
- Dominant in the Aegean Sea and surrounding areas, the Peloponnese peninsula, and the Balkans' southern end
- Italic:
- Dominant in the Italian peninsula
- Latin belonged to this branch
- Surviving languages include Italian, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian, and Spanish
- Celtic:
- Branch has Insular Celtic and Continental Celtic as sub-branches
- Spread across areas that are now the Western Czech Republic, Austria, and Southern Germany
- Gaulish was the main language of Continental Celtic
- Remaining Celtic languages include Breton, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish Gaelic
- Germanic:
- Three sub-branches: West Germanic (Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old English), North Germanic (Old Norse), and East Germanic (extinct)
- Germanic-speaking people inhabited areas along Southern Scandinavia up to the North Baltic Sea coast
- Modern survivors include Yiddish, Frisian, Dutch, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, and Danish
- Armenian:
- Origin not yet established
- Thought to have come from the Balkans and entered Anatolia around the 2nd millennium BCE
- Tocharian:
- Spoken in Western China's Taklamakan Desert
- Two languages: Tocharian A and Tocharian B
- Extinct branch of the Indo-European language family
- Balto-Slavic:
- Has Baltic and Slavic sub-branches
- Balts occupied areas surrounding Western Poland up to the Ural Mountains
- Slavs resided close to the Western Polish borders to the Dnieper River
- Modern survivors include Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian, Slovak, Serbian, Polish, Croatian, Czech, and Bulgarian
Changes in the English Language
- Evolved from Old English to Middle English to Modern English
- Changes include phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, and semantic changes
- Grimm's Law describes the consonant shifts that differentiated the Germanic languages from other Indo-European languages
- The Great Vowel Shift explains the pronunciation of long vowels from Middle English to Modern English
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the origins of language and how they evolved into distinct families, including Proto-IndoEuropean, Latin, and Proto-Germanic. Discover how these languages spread and separated into dialects over time.
