Language II: The Human Instinct for Language

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions pertaining to the topics discussed in the lecture on language and its structure.

Syntax

The set of rules that govern the structure of sentences, and how words can be combined into phrases and phrases into sentences.

Deep Structure

The meaning of a sentence, conceptualized as underlying the surface structure.

Surface Structure

The specific way a sentence is worded, which may vary while maintaining the same deep structure.

Ambiguous Sentence

A sentence that can be interpreted in more than one way due to its structure, like 'Students Cook and Serve Grandparents'.

Illocutionary Act

What the speaker is trying to do with their words, such as making a request or issuing a threat.

Locutionary Act

What is actually said, the literal meaning of the words spoken.

Pragmatics

The branch of linguistics that deals with language in use and the contexts in which it is used, focusing on intended meaning.

Nativist Theory

A theory proposed by Noam Chomsky suggesting that language acquisition is an innate, biological capacity.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

A hypothetical innate mechanism or process that facilitates the learning of language.

Critical Period

A specific time frame during which an individual is particularly receptive to learning language.

Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis (Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)

The theory that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview or cognition.

Behaviorist Explanations

Theories that argue language acquisition occurs through reinforcement, punishment, and conditioning.

Specific Language Impairments (SLI)

Genetically based difficulties that hinder the acquisition of grammatical structures despite normal intelligence.

Conceptual Repertoire

The range of abstract ideas that language users are capable of expressing.

Kanzi

A bonobo known for comprehending and using symbols, often cited in discussions of animal language learning.

Indirect Meaning

The implied or suggested meaning behind what is directly stated, which can often differ from the literal interpretation.