Introduction to Linguistics

Syntax

The structure of language; how words are arranged in sentences.

What is the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order of English?

It is the arrangement of words where the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object.

Tree Structures

Hierarchical representations of sentences, illustrating the grammatical structure.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language.

What is an example of ambiguity in semantics?

The phrase 'I bought a pen' can mean either a writing instrument or an enclosure for animals.

Structural Ambiguity

When a sentence can be interpreted in multiple ways due to its structure.

Morphology

The study of the structure of words and the smallest units of meaning, or morphemes.

What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of meaning in a language.

Phonetics

The study of sounds in language and how they are produced.

What distinguishes the sounds /s/ and /z/?

/s/ is voiceless (no vocal fold vibration) while /z/ is voiced (vocal folds vibrate).

Phonology

The study of patterns of sounds in languages.

What is an example of sound pattern comparison in phonology?

The /b/ in 'eBay' is unaspirated compared to the aspirated /p/ in 'pay'.