Lang Acquisition (Ch. 1)

communication

The exchange of information between a sender and a receiver using signals or symbols.

language

A socially shared, rule-governed system of symbols used to convey meaning.

speech

The physical act of producing sounds for language (articulation, voice, fluency).

How are language and speech different?

Language is a symbolic system of rules; speech is the motor act used to express language.

What does it mean that language is socially shared?

It is used and understood by members of a community.

What does it mean that language is rule-governed?

It follows systematic rules for sounds, words, and sentence structure.

What does generative mean in language?

Speakers can create and understand an infinite number of new messages.

What does symbolic mean in language?

Words represent concepts or ideas, not the objects themselves.

phonology

The sound system of a language and the rules for combining sounds.

morphology

The study of morphemes, the smallest units of meaning.

morpheme

The smallest meaningful unit of language (e.g., “-s,” “un-,” “dog”).

syntax

The rules that govern sentence structure and word order.

semantics

The meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.

pragmatics

How language is used appropriately in social contexts.