12 Questions
According to the structuralists, language can be described in terms of what?
Observable and verifiable data
What is considered the primary medium of language according to the text?
Speech
Why do linguists claim that speech has priority in language teaching?
Because speech is the primary form of language
What do linguists mean by stating that language is 'a system of systems'?
An organized arrangement of sounds to form words
Why are some languages spoken only and lack a written form according to the text?
Because speech is considered more primary than writing
What type of order do sounds follow in forming meaningful units or words in language?
Fixed systematic order
What is the main reason why 'Shen bought new novel a' is considered unacceptable in English grammar?
It violates the Subject-Verb-Object (S-V-O) word order.
Why is there no inherent relation between words and their meanings in language?
Because the relationship between words and meanings is arbitrary.
Why do native English speakers use the sounds / kæt / for the animal that flies?
It is a convention agreed upon over time.
What predisposes normal children to acquire their first language in a short time?
The presence of the Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
What aspect of language allows native speakers to produce and understand sentences they have not encountered before?
Language being creative.
Why is there no one-to-one correspondence between the structure of a word and what it stands for?
Due to language being arbitrary.
Test your knowledge of the structuralist views on language, which describe language in terms of observable data, structure, regularities, and patterns. Explore how structuralists view language as a system of speech sounds used for human communication.
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