Week 2 Language Structure Presentation PDF

Summary

This document presents an overview of week 2's materials on language and its structure, encompassing phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It also briefly discusses pragmatic aspects and how these elements interact. No questions or specific examples of past papers are in the text.

Full Transcript

Week 2 August 12-16, 2024 The Nature of Language: Language is a complex system of communication involving vocal or written symbols that represent ideas, objects, or relationships. It is a uniquely human capacity that allows us to share knowledge, express emotions, and build relation...

Week 2 August 12-16, 2024 The Nature of Language: Language is a complex system of communication involving vocal or written symbols that represent ideas, objects, or relationships. It is a uniquely human capacity that allows us to share knowledge, express emotions, and build relationships. Key Characteristics of Language Arbitrary: There is no inherent connection between a word and the concept it represents. For instance, there's no reason why "cat" should refer to a feline creature. Symbolic: Language uses symbols (words) to stand for things, ideas, or actions. Key Characteristics of Language Structured: Language follows specific rules (grammar) for combining words into meaningful sentences. Creative: Humans can constantly create new words and expressions. Dynamic: Language evolves over time, reflecting changes in society and culture. Language Structure: Language is a complex system composed of several interconnected levels. Phonology Sound system of a language. Involves the study of phonemes: the smallest units of sound that distinguish meaning. Examples: /p/ and /b/ in "pat" and "bat". Morphology Structure of words. Examines morphemes: the smallest units of meaning in a language. Includes free morphemes (stand-alone words) and bound morphemes (prefixes, suffixes). Examples: "un-" (prefix), "-ed" (suffix), "cat" (free morpheme). Syntax Sentence structure. Deals with how words combine to form phrases and sentences. Involves grammar rules and word order. Examples: Subject-verb-object structure in English. Semantics Meaning of words and sentences. Studies the relationship between language and the world. Examines how words and sentences convey meaning. Examples: The difference between "big" and "large". Pragmatics Language use in context. Explores how language is used in social situations. Considers factors like tone, body language, and cultural context. Examples: Understanding sarcasm or politeness. How they interconnect? Phonological differences in pronunciation can affect word morphology and syntax. How they interconnect? The semantic meaning of a word influences its syntactic role in a sentence. How they interconnect? Pragmatic context determines how semantics and syntax are interpreted. Language Mapping Student Age Mother Other Proficien Name Tongue Languag cy level es Spoken Note: Mother tongue is the language first learned at home. Other languages spoken include any additional languages used at home, in the community, or in other settings. Proficiency level can be assessed using a rubric or scale, such as beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

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