Linguistics Vocab 1

meta-linguistic awareness

The ability to consciously reflect on the nature of language

duality of patterning

The idea that words are made up of two levels of structure

arbitrary

Based on random choice, personal whim, or individual preference rather than any clear rule, system, or reason

arbitrariness of the sign

A concept asserting that there is no inherent, natural, or logical connection between the linguistic form of a word (the signifier) and the concept or object it represents (the signified).

sign

Anything that conveys a meaning beyond itself (i.e. "rain" = 🌧)

sign

A unit within a signed language, which is a language produced using the hands, arms, and face

displacement

The ability to talk about things beyond the here and now

reflexivity

The ability to use language to talk about language

phonetics

The study of individual sounds in spoken languages, or handshapes in signed languages

phonology

The study of how individual sound or handshapes are combined into specific patterns

morphology

The study of the internal structure of words

syntax

The study of how words group together to make sentences

semantics

The study of meanings of words and sentences

pragmatics

The study of meanings of words and sentences in a larger social context