Language Quiz

Language

Our manifestation of thinking and our spoken, sign, words, and the way we combine them to communicate meanings

Phoneme

basic unit of sound in language

Morpheme

smallest unit of language that carries meaning

→ suffixes or prefixes

Grammar

system of rules governing the use of language

Semantics

Rules that we get meanings from in grammar

→ adding an “s” means plural nouns

Syntax

System of rules in the way or order we combine words and phrases

Babbling stage

spontaneous utterance of noises, and is unrelated to language spoken at home

One word stage

baby saying one word, often one syllable

Two word stage

baby saying 2 words, 2 syllables

Telegraphic speech

rules of syntax are not important to baby when they talk

→ baby might overgeneralize the rules

Operant learning: Skinner

Nurture: learn language through association, imitation, and reinforcement

Inborn Universal Grammar: Chomsky

linguistic

→ we are born with the capacity to learn language spoken

-> born with hardware, nurture are software

→ All grammar have the same grammatical building blocks (nouns, verbs, …)

Worf’s Linguistic Determinism

Our thoughts and ideas are controlled by language

Euphemism

A type of double speak. Make something sounds less harsh, or offensive

Dysphemism

A type of double speak. Make something sounds as horrible as you can.

Jargon

A type of double speak. Specialized words used in profession. Utilize to exclude people.

Goobledy gook

A type of double speak. Pile of words, like a word salad. A way of confusing issues for people.

Inflated language

Make something ordinary seems extraordinary.

→ advertisement

Non human Animal Thinking

• Animals can form concepts

• Can exhibit insights and use tools

• The ability to learn (different crows used different language)

• Theory of mind: understand others mental stage and not just their own

Non human animal language

• Physical barrier is what stopped them

• Wishoe- first non human to learn sign languages

• Learn to use lexigram

Cognitive Universalism

Concepts are universal and it impacts development of language

Double speak

the way language influence perceptions of things