Language and Linguistics
By
Rehana Shrestha, Calandra Hanson, and
Shamekia Jefferson
Modified: 4/5/99
Language is defined as a system of socially
defined symbols that is organized phonologically, semantically, and
syntactically. It has two basic uses: Communication and
Representation. Language is importantly different from other forms of
communication. The following page offers a comprehensive overview on
language and linguistics.
Physical foundation of
language:
In 1957, B.F. Skinner, who is known as a proponent
of behaviorism, developed a theory of language development based on
the idea that language is learned.
- Nativist Theory (Noam Chomsky)
- Deep structures (biologically-based
predisposition)
- All languages share common
structures.
- Infants map the surface structure (what
they hear) onto the deep structures.
- Generated the first research.
Form and Function of
Language:
- Phonology
- Sound System of the Language
- Semantics
- Refers to the meaning of language
- It includes words we use and what they
mean.
- Syntax
- Refers to the rules of usage for a
language
- Examples combing words into sentences
that have meaning
General properties of
Language:
- Language is communicative.
- Language is arbitrary.
- Language is meaningfully
structured.
- Language is multiplicity of
structured.
- Language is productive
- Language is dynamic
- When does the language development
start?
- 10-11 months-"sound" (French/English
Intonation)
- Build intonation patterns and
gestures
- Stages of Language Acquisition:
- Prenatal responsivity to human
voices
- Postnatal cooing, which comprises all
possible phones
- Babbling, which comprises only the
distinct phonemes that characterize the primary language of the
infant
- One-word utterances
- Two-word utterances
- Telegraphic speech
- Basic adult sentence structure
____________________________________________________________________________________
URLS
- The Linguistic
List--index, intermediate, short, links, search
- The aim of the list is to provide a forum where academic
linguists can discuss linguistic issues and exchange linguistic
information. It offers the most recent 50 issues. and all the
formers issues as well.
http://www.emich.edu/~linguist/
- Linguistic
Anthropology--text, basic, short, links, search
- Ancient
Egyptian Languages--text, intermediate, short
- An introduction into the general characteristics of the
language of the Ancient Egyptians, this chapter covers the
linguistic relationship with other languages, and describes
some grammatic features of 'Ancient Egyptian'.
http://www.geocities.com/~amenhotep/index.html
- Noam
Chomsky--text, intermediate, short, graphics
- Noam
Chomsky Quotes--
- Chomsky's
Publications--publication, intermediate, short
- Chomsky's
Contributions--publication, intermediate, short,
intermediate
- Linguistic
Sources--index, intermediate, long
- Slides
on Language Development--interactive, basic, long
- Lecture--text,
basic, short
- Language
Families--index, advanced, long
- The Ethnologue is a catalogue of more than 6,700 languages
spoken in 228 countries. The Ethnologue Name Index list 39,000
language names, dialect names, and alternate names. The
Ethnologue Language Family Index organizes languages according
to language families.
http://www.sil.org/ethnologue/families/
- Languages
spoken around the world--text, intermediate, short,
links
- The
Psychology of Language--index, intermediate, long,
links
- The
Way--text, intermediate, long
- Levels
of Social Interaction--tutorial, basic, short
- Ebonics--text,
basic, long
- Translation
Machine--interactive, intermediate, short
- Online
Dictionary--interactive,intermediate, short
- Deafblind
Alphabet Manual-- text, basic, long, graphics
- American
Sign Language--graphic, basic, short
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