QUIZ 1: Ling 100A flashcards pt 1

Specialization for language

Humans are specialized for language with Speech Organs, Speech Perception, The Human Mind

A Creative System

Human language is creative. Language does not provide us with a set of pre-packaged messages. It allows us to produce and understand new words and sentences whenever needed. However, there are limitations on both the form and the interpretation of new words and sentences.

Linguistic Competence

can be defined as subconscious knowledge that enables the native speakers of a language to produce and understand an unlimited number of both familiar and novel utterances. The native speakers of a language are those who acquired it as children in a home rather than in a classroom. Can be learned.

Phonetics

Component of grammar: the study of the articulation and perception of speech sounds.

Phonology

Component of grammar: the study of how speech sounds pattern in language. How do speakers use those sounds? How do they pattern?

Morphology

Component of grammar: the study of word formation. How do sounds combine to create words? How do we create words?

Syntax

Component of grammar: the study of sentence formation. How do we combine words to make sentences?

Semantics

Component of grammar: The study of the interpretation of words and sentences. The meaning behind the words and sentences.

Grammar

The mental system of knowledge needed to form and interpret the sounds, words, and sentences of language. Refers to all the elements of our linguistic competence: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

Generality

Feature of grammar: All languages have sounds, words, and sentences that allow for the expression of any thought

Universality

Feature of grammar: all grammars share common principles and properties. Similarities across grammars.

Parity

Feature of grammar: all grammars are equal.

Mutability

Feature of grammar: all grammars change over time.

Inaccessibility

Feature of grammar: Our grammatical knowledge is unconscious: we can decide what sounds right and what does not, even though we may not be sure why this is so.

Cognitive (The Human Mind)

Forms words, builds sentences, and interprets meanings in ways not found in other species.

Speech perception

We are also equipped for speech perception, and we have this ability at birth. Studies have shown that newborns are able to perceive subtle differences between sounds, even sounds they have never heard before.

Speech organs

Our lungs, vocal cords, tongue, teeth, lips, and nasal passages are used both for survival (e.g., breathing and eating) and for producing the sounds of our language

Lungs

(energy)Speech organ that provides air for speech. When used for speech uses different muscles and air than when used for breathing.

Vocal Folds

(source) Produces vibrations for speech sounds

nose and nasal cavity

(filter) Provides nasal resonance during speech. See: bat (no resonance) vs Mat (resonance).

Lips

(filter) To articulate vowels and consonants

Teeth

(filter) provide place of articulation for consonants

Purists

Individuals and organizations who believe that certain varieties of language are better than others.

Descriptive

The quality of providing facts of language, as they are not as they should be.

Prescriptivism

The assumption that language should be expressed in a correct form.

Language

* A system of gestures, grammar, signs, sounds, symbols, and/or words. - Represents and communicates concepts ideas meanings, and thoughts.
* A social institution
* A source of ethnic pride and political controversy.
* Language has reach.

Ferdinand de Saussure

Prior to this linguist most of the work done was Historical. He brought a Synchronic focus.

Synchronic

Stopping time, what is language at this point in time and what is its structure?

Theoretical linguistics

Devising, working with frameworks that describe languages or some nature of languages

Applied Linguistics

LINGUISTICS Concerned with the application of linguistic theory to solving language-related problems in the real world.

Broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech. Speech organ coordination compromised if damaged.

Angular gyrus

translates writing into speech - Reading compromised if damaged

Wernicke's area

A brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe. Language comprehension affected if damaged.

Phonotactics

The ordering of sounds. A study of the rules governing the possible phoneme sequences in a language.

Grammar

mental system of rules and categories that allow humans to form and interpret the words and sentences of their language

linguistic competence

Speakers knowledge of their language allows them to produce and understand an unlimited # of utterances

Phonetics

the articulation and perception of speech sounds

Phonology

the patterning of speech sounds

morphology

word formation

syntax

sentence formation

semantics

interpretation of words + sentences

Descriptive linguistics

aim to describe linguistic competence; describe what speakers know about their language

Prescriptive Grammar

Prescribes rules governing what people should/shouldn't write or say

IPA

International Phonetic Alphabet

Lungs (vocal tract)

when preparing to speak air moves up through trachea

Larynx

aka voice box; air moves through vocal folds causing them to vibrate

Consonant

complete blockage somewhere in vocal tract ex. p, b, d, t or a constriction in vocal tract ex. f,v,s,z

Vowel

free passage of air where the tip of tongue doesn't touch anything ex. i, e, o, u, a

Labial sounds

sounds that are produced by one or both lips

bilabial sound

produced by a blockage of both lips

Bilabial sound

\[p\] \[b\] \[m\]

Labiodental sound

made by a blockage of lips + teeth (upper teeth, lower lips)

Labiodental sound example

\[f\] \[v\]

Dental sounds

produced by tongue touching the teeth

Interdental sound

sound made by lightly placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower teeth

Dental sound examples

\[θ\] \[ð\]

alveolar sounds

made when the tongue and alveolar ridge

Alveolar sound examples

\[s\] \[z\] \[t\] \[d\] \[l\] \[r\]

Alveo-palatal sounds

produced between alveolar ridge and hard palette

Alveo-palatal sound examples

\[ʃ\] \[ʒ\]

Palatal sound example

\[j\]

Velar sounds (vellum)

made with the back of the tongue against the soft palette, caused by blocking of nasal passage

Velar sounds example

\[k\] \[g\] \[ŋ\]

uvular sounds

produced like velar sounds, except the back of the tongue makes contact with the uvula instead of the velum (English doesn't have any uvular sounds but think french r roll)

Pharyngeal sounds

produced by a constriction of pharynx

Glottal stop

\[ʔ\] sound made with an open glottis (space between vocal folds)

* heard in cockney "butter" or "uh oh"

Stops

Sounds that are formed by closing off and reopening the oral cavity so that it stops the flow of air through the mouth, such as the consonants p, b, t, d, k, and g.

Unreleased stops

stop is closed, but not released (typically occurs at end of utterance or one word responses), ex. the end of cap, pot, back

Fricatives

consonants produced with a continuous airflow through the mouth such as f, th, v, s z, h

Affricates

Combination of a stop and a fricative; "ch," "j."

Liquids

Oral sonorous (deep) consonants \[r\] \[l\]

Glides

semi vowels, semi consonants; moves in a smooth way ex. \[j\] as in you, \[w\] as in wet

Vowels

sonorous, syllabic sounds made with the vocal tract more open, produced by varying placement of tongue and shaping of lips ex. \[i\] \[a\] \[u\]

Dipthong

a speech sound that consists of either two vowels or a vowel and a semivowel contained in a single syllable, sound begins at the first vowel and moves toward the sound of the second vowel (snout=ou/boy=oy)

Simple vowels (monothongs)

vowel that consists of one sound

Vowel Articulation

Refers to high of tongue (high or low), Front or back of tongue and position of lips (rounded or unrounded)

Lax vowel

the description of a vowel produced with a reduction in muscular effort;

tense vowel

description of a vowel produced with an increased muscular effort

Tense vowel examples

\[i\] free \[e\] day \[a\] lock \[o\] go \[u\] shoe

Lax vowel examples

\[I\] hit \[Ɛ\] met \[ae\] mad \[ɔ\]

Phonetic Aspiration

puff of air following a voiceless consonant \[pʰ tʰ kʰ\]

Suprasegmental properties

pitch, loudness and length

Flap/ tap

tip of tongue flaps roof of mouth, occurs between vowels and the vowel is stressed ex. city, pero (spanish) \[ɾ\]

Dark L

\[ɫ\] velarized- tongue touches ridge but also pulls back; comes after a vowel ex. fall, milk

Clear L

\[l\] alveolar -produced with tongue body down and tip up ex. leaf, lip

Minimal Pairs

a pair of words that differ by only 1 phoneme (dog/bog)

Canadian raising

occurs before a voiceless consonant./stop ex. \[aj\] in rise \[aw\] in house

Voiceless Liquid

comes after liquid stops l -> ḷ "hot love" t sound is voiceless

Syllables

consist of a vowel by itself or a consonant followed by a vowel

Syllabic nucleus

Each vowel segment in a word (n)

Syllabic Rhyme

Nucleus and coda of a syllable (r)

Continuant

A speech sound in which the air stream flows continually through the mouth; all speech sounds except stops and affricates.

Minimal Pairs

two words w/ distinct meanings that differ from one sound found in the same spot ex. Sip- zip, bed - bad

Writing complementary distribution

phoneme goes in // and allophones go in \[ \]

Epenthis (infixation)

adding an extra vowel or syllable where there is nothing ex. athelete vs athlete or filum instead of film

Deletion

removing a segment of a word ex. prade instead of parade or spose instead of suppose

Assimilation (agreement)

when one sound influences a neighbor sound 3 types: place, nasal and voicing

Place Assimilation

handbag when pronounced quickly often sound like hambag

Metathesis

switching of the order of two sounds, each taking the place of the other ex. spaghetti becomes psghetti prescription becomes prescription

vowel that consists of one sound

Refers to high of tongue (high or low), Front or back of tongue and position of lips (rounded or unrounded)