Onomatopoeia and the Bow-wow Theory of Language Origin

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Questions and Answers

What term does Chomsky use to describe actual language use, as opposed to the knowledge of language residing in the brain?

Performance (correct)

Competence

Autosegmental phonology

Generativism

Which of the following theories was NOT established as part of the generativism theoretical approach according to the text?

Autosegmental phonology (correct)

X-bar theory

Standard theory

Government and binding

Why do languages change over time?

Due to speakers forgetting vocabulary

To express new ideas emerging in society (correct)

To hinder communication

To become simpler

What aspect of language is mentioned as being more stable and less prone to change compared to vocabulary?

Grammar Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, what is a common characteristic of all languages regarding their relationship between sounds and meanings?

Random sound-symbol associations Signup and view all the answers

How many meaningful sounds do languages typically use, as mentioned in the text?

$15-40$ Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT true about speech sounds?

All languages use sounds produced by the upper lip touching the lower teeth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the technical term for the sound segments that create distinctiveness in the meaning of words?

Phonemes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs of words demonstrates a difference in meaning due to consonant sounds?

man vs pan Signup and view all the answers

In English, which sounds are classified as meaningful sounds?

/k, g, t, d/ Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between consonant sounds and vowel sounds?

Vowel sounds are produced with an obstruction of air, while consonant sounds have an unobstructed flow of air. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the discreet sound segments that comprise consonants and vowels in human language?

Phonemes Signup and view all the answers

What is the term given to words that echo natural sounds?

Onomatopoeic Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'bow-wow theory' of language origin?

Language originated from the sounds of animals Signup and view all the answers

What type of sounds are not uttered via consonants and vowels?

Interjections Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'yo-heave-ho theory' of language origin?

Language originated from sounds made during physical effort Signup and view all the answers

What type of sounds are unlikely candidates as source-sounds?

Expressive noises in emotional reactions Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'yo-heave-ho theory' suggest about the development of human language?

Language developed in a social context Signup and view all the answers

Which languages were among the first to have their grammars studied during the 14th to 17th centuries AD?

Italian, Spanish, and French Signup and view all the answers

Who played a significant role in promoting the study of languages during the Renaissance period?

The elite through printing Signup and view all the answers

Which languages were the focus of comparative studies by Trigault during the Renaissance period?

Chinese and languages of Western Europe Signup and view all the answers

Which two schools of thought in philosophy significantly influenced linguistic studies during the Renaissance?

Empiricism and Rationalism Signup and view all the answers

Which languages gained prominence in linguistic studies during the Renaissance period?

Hebrew and Arabic Signup and view all the answers

Which scholar did not contribute significantly to the growth of linguistics during the Renaissance period?

Leonardo da Vinci Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary means of communication in a sign language?

Manual symbols Signup and view all the answers

Who are the primary users of sign language?

People with hearing impairments Signup and view all the answers

What are the basic elements of a sign in sign language?

Hand shape, orientation, location, movement, and non-manual markers Signup and view all the answers

What type of sentence structure is not mentioned in the text?

Simple sentence Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a sign language according to Riekehof (1987:9)?

A language that uses manual symbols and finger spelling to represent ideas and concepts Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between compound and complex sentences?

They differ in the way they combine main and subordinate clauses Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chomsky's Term for Language Use

Chomsky uses the term performance to describe how people actually use language, while competence refers to the underlying knowledge of language that individuals possess.

Theories Not Part of Generativism

The text does not mention any specific theories that are not part of the generativism theoretical approach.

Reasons for Language Change

Languages change over time due to various factors, including contact with other languages, societal changes, and natural evolution.

Stable Element of Language

Grammar tends to be more stable and less prone to change compared to vocabulary.

Common Characteristic of Languages

All languages display an arbitrary relationship between sounds and meanings, meaning that there is no inherent connection between a word's sound and its meaning.

Typical Number of Meaningful Sounds

Languages typically use around 40 to 50 meaningful sounds.

Characteristics of Speech Sounds

Speech sounds are not always distinct and can vary between individuals, leading to challenges in transcription and analysis.

Technical Term for Meaningful Sound Segments

The technical term for meaningful sound segments that differentiate word meanings is phonemes.

Consonant Sound Impact on Word Meaning

The word pair "pat" and "bat" exemplifies a meaning difference resulting from consonant sounds.

Meaningful Sounds in English

In English, consonants and vowels are classified as meaningful sounds.

Difference Between Consonants and Vowels

Consonants involve a constriction of airflow in the mouth, while vowels have free airflow.

Discrete Sound Segments

The phoneme is the discreet sound segment that comprises consonants and vowels in human language.

Words Echoing Natural Sounds

Words that echo natural sounds are known as onomatopoeia.

'Bow-Wow Theory' of Language Origin

The 'bow-wow theory' suggests that language originated from imitation of natural sounds.

Sounds Not Uttered via Consonants and Vowels

Glides are sounds not produced via consonants and vowels.

'Yo-Heave-Ho Theory' of Language Origin

The 'yo-heave-ho theory' proposes that language developed from grunts and shouts used in shared physical activities.

Unlikely Source Sounds

Glides are considered unlikely candidates as source-sounds for the origin of language.

'Yo-Heave-Ho Theory' and Language Development

The 'yo-heave-ho theory' suggests that shared physical effort led to the development of shared vocalizations.

First Languages Studied

Greek, Latin, and Hebrew were among the first languages to have their grammars studied in detail during the 14th to 17th centuries AD.

Renaissance Promoter of Language Study

Renaissance humanists, such as Erasmus and Vives, played a crucial role in promoting the study of languages.

Renaissance Comparative Studies

Trigault, a Jesuit missionary, conducted comparative studies on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean during the Renaissance.

Renaissance Philosophical Influences

The Renaissance saw significant influence from Stoicism and Scholasticism on linguistic studies.

Renaissance Linguistic Prominence

Greek and Latin gained prominence in Renaissance linguistic studies.

Non-Contributor to Renaissance Linguistics

Aristotle did not contribute significantly to the growth of linguistics during the Renaissance.

Sign Language Communication

Manual gestures constitute the primary means of communication in sign language.

Sign Language Users

Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, along with hearing family members, are the primary users of sign language.

Elements of a Sign

Handshape, movement, location, and facial expressions are the basic elements of a sign in sign language.

Missing Sentence Structure

The text does not mention exclamatory sentences as a sentence structure.

Definition of Sign Language

Riekehof (1987:9) defines sign language as a complete language system involving visual and gestural communication.

Compound vs. Complex Sentences

The primary difference between compound and complex sentences lies in their connectives. Compound sentences use coordinating conjunctions, while complex sentences use subordinating conjunctions.

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Description

Explore the concept of onomatopoeia and the Bow-wow theory of language origin, which suggests that words imitate natural sounds. Delve into how certain words in different languages echo natural sounds and speculate about the original sounds of language originating from emotional cries like pain, anger, and joy.