Quest 1

What is the core idea of generative models?

Language is governed by innate, abstract grammatical rules (Universal Grammar)

What is “language competence” in generative theory?

Mental knowledge of rules that lets us generate infinite sentences.

What’s the difference between deep structure and surface structure?

Deep = underlying meaning; Surface = the spoken/written form.

Strength of generative models?

Explains universals across languages and ability to create novel sentences.

Weakness of generative models?

Ignores frequency, variation, and how language is actually used.

What is the core idea of usage-based models?

Language emerges from experience, frequency, and context, not innate rules.

What cognitive mechanisms support usage-based models?

Memory, frequency, chunking, analogy.

Strength of usage-based models?

Explains frequency effects, phonetic reduction, and language change.

Weakness of usage-based models?

May underestimate abstraction and true novelty in language use.

What is an exemplar in linguistics?

A specific remembered instance of language stored in memory.

How do exemplar models explain categories?

Categories emerge from comparing many stored examples (exemplars).

Example of exemplar-based learning?

Past tense learned from stored words (walked, played), not abstract rules.

Strength of exemplar models?

Explains frequency effects, variation, and change.

Weakness of exemplar models?

Struggles to explain how speakers generate truly novel utterances.

What is a phoneme?

The smallest unit of sound that changes meaning (e.g. /p/ vs /b/ in pat vs bat)

Give an example of two words that differ by one phoneme

pat vs bat → /p/ vs /b/.

What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of meaning (e.g., dog,-s, un-)

What’s the difference between free and bound morphemees?

Free = can stand alone (dog), Bound = must attach (-s, -ed, un-)

Break down the word unhappiness into morphemes

un- (prefix) + happy (root) + -ness (suffix)

What is grammar in linguistics?

The system of rules for forming words (morphology) and sentences (syntax)

What is morphology?

The study of how morphemes combine to form words (walk +-ed = walked)

What is syntax?

The rules for combining words into sentences ( SVO order in English vs OSV in ASL)