Unit 1 Overview- Language Development

Speech

the dynamic neuromuscular process of producing speech sounds for communication; a verbal (using words) means of expression.

phoneme

the smallest linguistic unit of sound that creates a difference in meaning

Example: (cat, bat, sat)

language

a socially shared code or conventional system for representing concepts through the use of arbitrary symbols and rule-governed combinations of those symbols

-writing

-sign language

communication

the exchange of information, ideas, needs and desires, between two or more individuals.

dialects

subcategories of a parent language that uses similar but not identical rules.

deficit approach

notion that only one dialect of a language is inherently correct or standard and that others are substandard or exhibit some deficit

sociolinguistic approach

considers that all dialectal variation is to be related to each other and the idealized standard. Each dialect is a valid rule system and therefore none is better than the other. 

code switching

process of varying between two or more languages.

bilingual-

fluent in two languages; uses two languages on a daily basis.

paralinguistic codes

vocal and non-vocal codes that are super imposed on linguistic code to signal the speaker's attitude or emotion or to clarify or provide additional meaning (ex. intonation, stress, rate,

non-linguistic cues

coding devices that contribute to communication but are not a part of speech. Examples include gestures, body posture, eye contact, head and body movement, facial expression, and physical distance.

syntax-

organizational rules specifying word order, sentence organization, and word relationships

morphology

• is the study of the structure and formation of words. It looks at how the smallest meaningful units of language—called morphemes—combine to create words.

morpheme

smallest unit of meaning in a language; indivisible without violating the meaning or pronunciation or producing meaningless units

phonology

• aspect of language concerned with the rules governing the structure, distribution, and sequencing of speech-sound patterns

semantics

Semantics studies how word order and choice affect meaning.

• “Dog” refers to a four-legged animal that barks

• “Canine” refers to the same animal, but the word is different.

• This is about the meaning of words.

pragmatics

• aspect of language concerned with language use within a communication context.

-is the study of how language is used in context, how meaning depends not just on the words themselves, but also on the situation, the speaker’s intention, and shared knowledge.

Identify the Five Components of Language:

1) Phonology

2) Morphology

3) Syntax

4) Semantics

5) Pragmatics

What is an arbitrary symbol?

is a word, sign, or sound whose form is not naturally connected to its meaning—the relationship is based on social convention, not logic or resemblance.

Example: The word “tree” is an arbitrary symbol. There’s nothing about the sounds that looks or sounds like an actual tree.

Morphology w/ Example

the internal structure of words

-Smallest units of meaning are called morphemes.

Example: the word “unhappiness”

un = prefix meaning “not”

happy = root word (free morpheme, can stand alone)

-ness = suffix that turns an adjective into a noun

• Each part contributes meaning, and morphology studies how those parts are put together.

Syntax w/ Example

rules for sentence structure

• How words are combined into phrases and sentences.

Example: "The dog chased the cat." (correct syntax) vs. "Chased cat the dog the" (incorrect syntax).

Pragmatics w/ Example

the social use of language

• Pragmatics is the overall organizing aspect of language

Many different meanings for one phrase, like “you good?” has many different meanings

Phonology w/ Example

the sound system of a language

Rules about which sounds exist and how they can be combined.

Example:

Semantics w/ Example

• the meaning of words and sentences

-aspect of language concerned with the meaning or content of words or grammatical units.

What is a free morpheme?

A free morpheme is a morpheme (a unit of meaning) that can function as a word all by itself

Example: book → can stand alone as a word (free morpheme)

Why does language use Arbitrary Symbols?

Language uses symbols (words, sounds, or signs) to represent objects, ideas, or actions.

These symbols are arbitrary because there is no natural or logical connection between the form of the word and it’s meaning.

Example: the word “dog” doesn’t look or sound

like a dog, it’s just the symbol english speakers all settled on.

Why is language rule-governed?

Language uses a set of rules (grammar, syntax, morphology, phonology) that speakers know and use, without realizing it.

• These rules tell us how to arrange words so they make sense.

Example: In English, “The cat chased the dog” is correct, but “Cat the dog chased” breaks the rules.

Why is language generative?

Language allows us to create an infinite number of new sentences and ideas using a finite set of words and rules.

This means people can say things they’ve never heard before, and others can still understand them.

Example: You’ve probably never heard the sentence “The purple rabbit is skateboarding on the roof”—but you understand it.

Language as a social tool

Language is fundamentally used for communication between people.

We use it to share information, build relationships, express emotions, give instructions, or influence others.

Example: A child says “I want cookie”—they’re not just using words, they’re using language to achieve a social goal (getting the cookie).

4 propertries of Language

1) Social Tool

2) Generative

3) Rule-goverend system

4) Arbitrary Symbols

What is a speech act?

A speech act is when saying something actually does something in the real world. 

• A speech act isn’’t just words, it’s an action being carried out by speaking. 

Macro-level

Societal and cultural level of language - norms, power, or social values.

Example: Many cultures value being outgoing and talkative. If you’re quiet, people might wrongly think you’re less confident.

Embodied-level

How language is tied to your body and lived experience.

Example: The way you gesture, use tone of voice, facial expressions

Micro-level

Personal level of language use - your individual experiences, interactions, and habits.

Example: If you grew up shy, you might speak more quietly or avoid eye contact

Form

1) Syntax

2) Morphology

3) Phonology

Content

1) Semantics - is the study of meaning in language—how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning.

Use

1) Pragmatics - is the study of how language is used in context, how meaning depends not just on the words themselves, but also on the situation, the speaker’s intention, and shared knowledge.