Talking about Language

Language Processing

The way in which individuals comprehend, produce, and utilize language.

Fact Memorization

The process of remembering factual information for the purpose of assessment and learning.

Duality of Patterning

A concept in linguistics proposed by Charles Hockett, which refers to the idea that language consists of a limited set of sounds that can be arranged to create a vast array of meanings.

Sound Symbolism

A phenomenon where the sound of a word is associated with its meaning in a non-arbitrary way.

Phonemes

The smallest units of sound in a language that can differentiate meaning.

Morpheme

The smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning.

Syllabary

A writing system in which each symbol represents a syllable.

Pragmatics

The study of how context influences the interpretation of meaning in language.

Compositionality

The principle that the meaning of a complex expression is determined by its structure and the meanings of its constituents.

Intonation

The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, which can influence the meaning of a statement.

Linguistics

The scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics.

Written vs. Spoken Language

Written language is a representation of spoken language and typically follows different structural rules.

Universal Grammar

Noam Chomsky's theory that proposes an inherent structural framework common to all languages.

Arbitrariness in Language

The lack of a natural connection between words and their meanings, as exemplified by definitions in different languages.

Stylistics

The study of how language style varies in different contexts and influences communication.

Causal Relationships

Connections in meaning that indicate one event is the result of another, often signaled by conjunctions.

Fingerspelling

A method of spelling out words using hand gestures, typically used in sign languages.

Semantics

The branch of linguistics concerned with meaning.

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing

Cognitive processes that involve interpreting information based on prior knowledge (top-down) or on the data received (bottom-up).