WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

Introduction to Linguistics

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

The design features of a language (Charles Hockett)

Mode of communication

Semanticity

Pragmatic function

Interchangeability

Cultural transmission

Arbitrariness

Discreteness

Displacement

Productivity

Arbitrariness

Evidence for arbitrariness

Discreteness/duality of patterning

Productivity

All human languages use a finite set of linguistic data to generate an infinite set of possible sentences – the creative aspect of language

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A mystery: where does language come from? (1)

Ding-Dong

humans make to mimic the sounds of the world around them.

boom = explosion

oink = the sound made by a pig.

Bow-wow

humans form their first words by imitating animal sounds.

It seems difficult to accept that humans learned to speak to one another by talking to the animals.

A mystery: where does language come from? (2)

Pooh-poohthe first words developed from sighs of pleasure, moans of pain, and other semi-involuntary cries or exclamations. Uh-ohhuman language begins with the use of arbitrary symbols that represent warnings to other members of the human band. Yo-he-holanguage arose in rhythmic chants and vocalisms uttered by people engaged in communal labour.

A mystery: where does language come from? (3)

Language is a human instinct

Human beings are born with the ability to speak language.

Universal Grammar (UG)

Universal Grammar (UG)

Definition The properties that all human languages share.

Feature Innateness

Human beings are born with language ability.

Evidence Children can acquire languages they are exposed to with ease.

What does it mean by saying you speak

Mandarin Chinese ?

Linguistically, you possess the linguistic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.

Sounds

Words

Sentences

Linguistic Knowledge

Knowledge of sound system

The inventory of sounds in a languageChinese: [+l], [-r]. Lai, *rai

The possible arrangement of sound sequencesEnglish: [nuk]; [snuk]; *[sknuk]; *[mnuk]

Chinese: [mau]; [myau]; *[aum]; *[yaum]

Knowledge of words

Form and meaning => arbitrary

Knowledge of sentences and non-sentences

All students love linguistics;

*Love linguistics all students

Competence vs. Performance

Competence

What you know about linguistic knowledge

A perfect linguistic system

Performance

How you use this linguistic knowledge in actual speech production and comprehension

Example:

Competence: John likes German cars.

Performance: You don’t*John like German car.

What is grammar?

What a speaker knows about language.

Linguistic knowledge, competence

Components

Phonology

Morphology

Syntax

lexicon

Types of grammar

Descriptive grammar

To describe what you know about grammarJohn is the person who/whom I met yesterday.

暴露 [bau lou], [pou lou]

Prescriptive grammar

To tell you how you should use about grammarJohn is the person *who/whom I met yesterday.

暴露 *[bau lou], [pou lou]

Teaching grammar

Used to learn a language

Do you agree…

Apes and dogs have their own languages. We just don’t understand them.

The Formosan languages (e.g., Paiwan, Atayal) are aboriginal languages. They are not as good as Chinese, English, or French.

The truth is…

Wherever humans exist, language exits.

All languages are equal - no ‘primitive’ language