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The concept of obligatory grammatical categories, such as tense marking, is uniformly instantiated across all the world's languages, thereby eliminating any cross-linguistic variation in their expression.
The concept of obligatory grammatical categories, such as tense marking, is uniformly instantiated across all the world's languages, thereby eliminating any cross-linguistic variation in their expression.
False (B)
Given the capacity for recursion, demonstrated through constructions such as center-embedded clauses, the theoretical upper bound on sentence length, processable by human comprehension, can be definitively quantified using Chomsky Normal Form.
Given the capacity for recursion, demonstrated through constructions such as center-embedded clauses, the theoretical upper bound on sentence length, processable by human comprehension, can be definitively quantified using Chomsky Normal Form.
False (B)
Assuming optimal language acquisition conditions, a child's linguistic competence will develop identically irrespective of their intrinsic aptitude, thereby indicating that innate cognitive capacities contribute negligibly to the rate and ultimate proficiency achieved in language learning.
Assuming optimal language acquisition conditions, a child's linguistic competence will develop identically irrespective of their intrinsic aptitude, thereby indicating that innate cognitive capacities contribute negligibly to the rate and ultimate proficiency achieved in language learning.
False (B)
Semantic universals, such as inherent conceptual distinctions between 'male' and 'female', are manifested identically across all languages, thereby precluding any language-specific construals or cultural influences on these fundamental categories.
Semantic universals, such as inherent conceptual distinctions between 'male' and 'female', are manifested identically across all languages, thereby precluding any language-specific construals or cultural influences on these fundamental categories.
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The primacy of orality in language dictates that written forms are merely derivative representations, categorically incapable of influencing or transforming the underlying cognitive processes associated with linguistic comprehension.
The primacy of orality in language dictates that written forms are merely derivative representations, categorically incapable of influencing or transforming the underlying cognitive processes associated with linguistic comprehension.
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Within the Shannon-Weaver model of communication, complete elimination of noise at the channel is theoretically and practically feasible, thereby guaranteeing perfect fidelity between the signal transmitted and the signal received.
Within the Shannon-Weaver model of communication, complete elimination of noise at the channel is theoretically and practically feasible, thereby guaranteeing perfect fidelity between the signal transmitted and the signal received.
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In Berlo's S-M-C-R model, the sender's communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system, and culture have no bearing on the encoding process; effective communication depends solely on the receiver's decoding abilities.
In Berlo's S-M-C-R model, the sender's communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, social system, and culture have no bearing on the encoding process; effective communication depends solely on the receiver's decoding abilities.
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Schramm's model posits that successful communication occurs when the fields of experience of the sender and receiver are entirely disparate, fostering innovation and novel interpretations.
Schramm's model posits that successful communication occurs when the fields of experience of the sender and receiver are entirely disparate, fostering innovation and novel interpretations.
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Barnlund's Transactional Model suggests that in a dyadic communication event, participants are distinctly either senders or receivers at any given moment, disallowing simultaneous reciprocal influence.
Barnlund's Transactional Model suggests that in a dyadic communication event, participants are distinctly either senders or receivers at any given moment, disallowing simultaneous reciprocal influence.
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In every communication model, feedback is invariably interpreted identically by the sender, irrespective of contextual nuances or the receiver's communication style, thereby ensuring perfect alignment in understanding.
In every communication model, feedback is invariably interpreted identically by the sender, irrespective of contextual nuances or the receiver's communication style, thereby ensuring perfect alignment in understanding.
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Given diachronic linguistics, the Great Vowel Shift in Middle English demonstrates that language change is typically regressive, simplifying complex phonological distinctions over time.
Given diachronic linguistics, the Great Vowel Shift in Middle English demonstrates that language change is typically regressive, simplifying complex phonological distinctions over time.
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In languages with ergative-absolutive alignment, the subject of a transitive verb is marked identically to the object of an intransitive verb, thereby indicating a primary focus on the patient rather than the agent.
In languages with ergative-absolutive alignment, the subject of a transitive verb is marked identically to the object of an intransitive verb, thereby indicating a primary focus on the patient rather than the agent.
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Considering Noam Chomsky’s competence-performance distinction, linguistic competence, representing an idealized speaker-hearer's knowledge, can be fully and accurately assessed through exhaustive analysis of recorded speech (performance) data.
Considering Noam Chomsky’s competence-performance distinction, linguistic competence, representing an idealized speaker-hearer's knowledge, can be fully and accurately assessed through exhaustive analysis of recorded speech (performance) data.
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Assuming Whorfian hypothesis's strongest form, cross-linguistic differences in grammatical structures (e.g., grammatical gender) exert deterministic influence on cognitive processes, leading speakers of different languages to conceptualize reality in mutually incommensurable ways.
Assuming Whorfian hypothesis's strongest form, cross-linguistic differences in grammatical structures (e.g., grammatical gender) exert deterministic influence on cognitive processes, leading speakers of different languages to conceptualize reality in mutually incommensurable ways.
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In autosegmental phonology, features like tone or nasalization can only be associated with a single segment on the melodic tier, which inherently limits the representation of prosodic phenomena such as contour tones or spreading nasalization.
In autosegmental phonology, features like tone or nasalization can only be associated with a single segment on the melodic tier, which inherently limits the representation of prosodic phenomena such as contour tones or spreading nasalization.
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In Optimality Theory, markedness constraints, which discourage typologically rare or complex linguistic structures, are universally ranked above faithfulness constraints, which require preservation of input forms in the output.
In Optimality Theory, markedness constraints, which discourage typologically rare or complex linguistic structures, are universally ranked above faithfulness constraints, which require preservation of input forms in the output.
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According to Relevance Theory, the degree of cognitive effort required to process a linguistic utterance is inversely proportional to its contextual effects, meaning more complex utterances always require more effort, regardless of context.
According to Relevance Theory, the degree of cognitive effort required to process a linguistic utterance is inversely proportional to its contextual effects, meaning more complex utterances always require more effort, regardless of context.
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Under Structuralist Linguistics, language is primarily regarded as a system of pre-existing universal cognitive categories, directly reflecting innate human conceptual structures.
Under Structuralist Linguistics, language is primarily regarded as a system of pre-existing universal cognitive categories, directly reflecting innate human conceptual structures.
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Given the principles of Government and Binding Theory, all sentences universally exhibit overt subject-verb agreement, regardless of the specific morphological properties of the language in question.
Given the principles of Government and Binding Theory, all sentences universally exhibit overt subject-verb agreement, regardless of the specific morphological properties of the language in question.
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In Construction Grammar all linguistic knowledge ranging from the lexicon to syntax, is represented uniformly as constructions which are form-meaning pairings and the architecture precludes the possibility of rule-based derivations from underlying representations.
In Construction Grammar all linguistic knowledge ranging from the lexicon to syntax, is represented uniformly as constructions which are form-meaning pairings and the architecture precludes the possibility of rule-based derivations from underlying representations.
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Flashcards
Language Definition
Language Definition
A method of human communication using symbols to express ideas and emotions.
Dynamic Nature of Language
Dynamic Nature of Language
Language evolves and changes over time, adapting to speakers' needs.
Arbitrary Symbols
Arbitrary Symbols
The relationship between words and their meanings is mostly random and culturally defined.
Finite Set of Elements
Finite Set of Elements
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Complexity of All Languages
Complexity of All Languages
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Change Over Time
Change Over Time
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Discrete Sounds
Discrete Sounds
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Grammar Rules
Grammar Rules
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Universal Grammatical Categories
Universal Grammatical Categories
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Oral-Auditory Communication
Oral-Auditory Communication
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Communication
Communication
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Sender
Sender
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Receiver
Receiver
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Message
Message
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Channel
Channel
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Feedback
Feedback
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Interference/Noise
Interference/Noise
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Psychological Factors
Psychological Factors
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Cultural Factors
Cultural Factors
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Schramm Communication Model
Schramm Communication Model
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Study Notes
Language and Its Nature
- Language is a tool for communication, used to express thoughts, feelings, views, and perspectives.
- Language is dynamic and evolves throughout time.
- Language is a purely human method of communication, using voluntarily produced symbols to express ideas, emotions, and desires (Sapir, 1921).
- Language comprises arbitrary vocal symbols, used by social groups to cooperate (Bloch & Trager, 1942).
- Language is a collection of sentences, finite in length, constructed from a finite set of elements (Chomsky, 1957).
- Human communication involves the use of habitually used oral-auditory arbitrary symbols (Hall, 1969).
- Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication (Wardaugh, 1972).
- Language is a symbol system based on arbitrary conventions, infinitely extendable, and adaptable to speakers' needs and conditions (Robins, 1985).
Characteristics of Language
- Language exists wherever humans exist.
- All languages are equally complex and capable of expressing any idea; their vocabularies can be expanded to incorporate new concepts.
- Languages constantly evolve over time.
- Relationships between spoken language sounds and meanings, and between sign language gestures and meanings are largely arbitrary.
- All languages use a finite set of discrete sounds or gestures, combined to form meaningful words, which form countless sentences.
- All grammars have rules for word and sentence formation.
- All spoken languages have discrete sound segments and defined sound properties.
- All languages often have classes of vowels and consonants.
- Similar grammatical categories like nouns and verbs are present in all languages.
Language and Communication Processes
- Communication is the exchange of ideas, thoughts, and information between individuals.
- Different elements of communication:
- Sender: the information source
- Receiver: the recipient of the information
- Message: the information itself.
- Channel: the medium connecting sender and receiver
- Feedback: response of receiver to the sender
- Interference/Noise: anything distorting the communication process
- Types of Interference:
- Physiological Noise
- External Noise
- Semantic Language Barrier
- Situation/Context (all interrelated communication conditions)
Factors Affecting Communication
- Psychological Factors: communication mood
- Cultural Factors: shared values and norms of a group
- Physical Factors: place, time, environmental conditions
- Social Factors: nature of relationship between communicators
- Historical Factors: previous communications between individuals affecting their current interactions
Communication Models
- Shannon-Weaver Model (1949)
- SMRC Model (Berlo, 1960)
- Schramm Model (1954)
- Transactional Model (Barnlund, 1970)
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Description
Explore the fundamental aspects of language as a tool for communication. This quiz delves into the characteristics and definitions proposed by various linguists throughout history. Understand the dynamic nature of language and its role in human interaction.
