Uniqueness of Human Language

Developing better teaching tools, designing computers for human interaction, treating speech and language disorders

Grammar is a complex phenomenon but every human masters the grammar of some language

Some languages use cardinal directions instead of right and left

<p>To tease apart the patterns of various aspects of human language in order to discover how language works.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Despite the complexity of language, it can be studied scientifically due to its systematic nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Language varies systematically from person to person, region to region, and situation to situation, with variation at every level of structure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Linguistic competence is the potential to speak a language stored in the mind, while linguistic performance is the observable realization of that potential in speech.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Walking competence is the ability to walk, even when not actively doing so, while walking performance is the actual act of walking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Linguistic competence cannot be directly observed, so linguists use linguistic performance to draw conclusions about competence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Information source, transmitter, signal, receiver, destination</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>One person acts as the information source and transmitter, sending a signal to another person who acts as a receiver and destination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To effectively act as either the source and transmitter or as the receiver and destination.</p> Signup and view all the answers