eng165a introduction to linguistics lesson 1 introduction
TRANSCRIPT
ENG165AIntroduction to Linguistics
Lesson 1
Introduction
3
Schedule
• Course introduction
• Questionnaire
• Quiz
• Mini-lecture on linguistics
4
Questionnaire
Complete the questionnaire and let us know your expectation of the course.
Quiz
Do the quiz and see how much you already know!
Statement 1
There are five vowel sounds in English.
Statement 1
English is written with five vowel LETTERS. However, those letters serve to represent as many as 12 to 15 SOUNDS, depending on your variety of English. For example, the letter "u" represents 3 different sounds in the words 'but', 'put', 'butte'.
Useful websites on IPA
http://web.uvic.ca/ling/resources/phonlab/ipatut/index.html
http://www.oupchina.com.hk/dict/phonetic/home.html
http://www.eduquery.com/archives/ipa.htm
Statement 2
Educated people speak more grammatically than do uneducated people.
Statement 2
Educated people tend to conform more closely to the norms of a "standard" variety of a language (English in English-speaking countries, French in French-speaking countries, etc.) than do people without formal education.
Statement 3
All linguists speak several languages.
Statement 3
Depending on what you mean by "linguist". One dictionary definition of "linguist" is "someone who speaks two or more languages". By this definition, the statement is obviously true.
Statement 4
The languages of primitive peoples have simpler grammars than languages such as English or French.
Statement 4
All languages are complex. Some of the languages which have the greatest complexity in details of how words are put together, etc. are, in fact, spoken by people in some of the least technologically advanced cultures.
Statement 5
Parrots and people can both use language.
Statement 5
Parrots have the ability to mimic sounds of various types, including words and phrases of human languages. However, a parrot could not learn to combine the word-like sounds that it can mimic into new combinations to create sentences which it had not heard before.
Statement 6
Intelligence is a major factor in a child's ability to learn a first language rapidly and well.
Statement 6
All children in all cultures acquire the languages of their cultures at about the same rate and following similar paths, starting with one-word utterances, then combinations of two words, then more complex utterances with the cute "mistakes" we recognize as baby talk, and so on.
Statement 7
More than two-thirds of the English vocabulary consists of "borrowed" words.
Statement 7
If one goes through an unabridged dictionary of English, one finds that as many as 2/3 of the words listed there have come into English from other languages. That is, these words were not part of the vocabulary of English as it was spoken, say, 1000 years ago.
Statement 8
We should say, "It's I," rather than, "It's me."
Statement 8
The answer here is similar to that for Statement 2 above. If "should say" means that this is what we were taught in school and it is therefore the norm which we should follow, then this statement is true. If "should say" means that we are not speaking "real English" if we do otherwise, then it is false.
Statement 9
A language which has never been written is more properly called a "dialect" than a "language".
Statement 9
If by "dialect" you mean "a non-written variety of speech", this statement is, by definition, true, but this is an incoherent and unacceptable use of the word "dialect". Properly used, the word "dialect" refers to "a variety of language showing systematic differences from other varieties of THE SAME LANGUAGE".
Statement 10
As a language is passed on from one generation to the next, it tends to get corrupted.
Statement 10
If "corrupted" means "changed", then this would be true, but normally persons who make such statements as this mean "degenerated".
Statement 11
Hawaiian Pidgin should not be taught in schools because it prevents children from learning proper English.
Statement 11
Hawaii Pidgin English, Hawaii Creole English, HCE, or simply Pidgin, is a creole language based in part on English used by most “local” residents of Hawaii. Pidgin is used by many Hawaii residents in everyday conversation and is often used in advertising toward Hawaii residents.
Statement 12
There are 3 to 5 distinct sounds in the word thorough.
Statement 12
The sounds are:
th = a single "fricative" sound made by passing air between tongue and teeth
or = for some speakers, a single sound like the "rr" sound in 'bird'; for other speakers,
two sounds, i.e. a vowel like the vowel in 'but' and an 'r'
ough = for some speakers a single sound, 'o'; for other speakers, two sounds, 'o'
followed by 'w'
Statement 13
There are 4 units of meaning in the word disrespectfully.
Statement 13
The 4 units of meaning are:
dis- means "not, negative“
-respect- means "deference“
-ful- added to the noun respect to make an adjective ("full of respect")
-ly added to an adjective to make an adverb ("in a manner of respecting")
Statement 14
How many languages are there in the world?
Statement 14
Several thousand.
Statement 15
Which two languages in the following pairs are the most closely related to each other?
– English and Yiddish– Yiddish and Hebrew– English and French– Chinese and Japanese– Hawaiian and Tagalog
Statement 15
English and Yiddish
These are both "Germanic" languages.
Statement 16
Which is the oldest language in the world?
– Sumerian– Egyptian– Sanskrit– Greek– Chinese– Hebrew
Statement 16
• Sumerian: records dating from about 3100 BC (5100 years)
• Egyptian: 3000 BC
• Sanskrit: 1500 BC
• Greek: 1400 BC (oldest records in the Greek alphabet, ca. 1000 BC)
• Chinese: 1300 BC
• Hebrew: 1100 BC
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Can You Recognize These Logos?
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Top 10 Advertising Slogans?No Slogan Company
1. Impossible is nothing. Adidas
2. Nike
3. Think small. Volkswagen
4. Diamonds are forever. DeBeers
5. KFC
6. The ultimate driving machine. BMW
7. Does she ... or doesn't she? Clairo
8. Because I'm worth it. L'Oréal
9. McDonalds
10. M&M candies
AgreAgree I e I do!do!
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Top 10 Advertising Slogans?No Slogan Company
1. Impossible is nothing. Adidas
2. Just do it. Nike
3. Think small. Volkswagen
4. Diamonds are forever. DeBeers
5. Finger lickin' good. KFC
6. The ultimate driving machine. BMW
7. Does she ... or doesn't she? Clairo
8. Because I'm worth it. L'Oréal
9. I’m lovin’ it. McDonalds
10. M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
M&M candies
AgreAgree I e I do!do!
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What is Linguistics?
– Etymology: Latin lingua language, tongue
• Linguistics is NOT:
speaking many languages
translating / interpreting
working on one’s language skills
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What is Linguistics?
LINGUISTICS =
SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF LANGUAGE
• Scientific methodology: observations form hypotheses hypothesis testing theory
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What is Language?
• Language is a tool we have been using to understand and develop our thinking. We have been:
– Learning about the thinking of others by reading– Expressing our own thinking through writing– Exchanging ideas with others by speaking and listening
• Thought and language can contribute to clear, effective thinking and communication.
LanguageLanguage is a system of symbols for thinking and communicating.
LanguageLanguage is a system of symbols for thinking and communicating.
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Clarify Thinking• The relationship between thinking and
language is interactive; both processes are continuously influencing each other in many ways.
Clear and precise language leads to clear and precise thinking.Clear and precise language leads to clear and precise thinking.Clear and precise language leads to clear and precise thinking.Clear and precise language leads to clear and precise thinking.
Clear LanguageClear LanguageSpecificDistinctPrecise Accurate
Clear ThinkingClear ThinkingSpecificDistinctPrecise Accurate
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Clarify Thinking• Vague language - using words that are very imprecise and general.
Vague words are words that lack a clear and distinct meaning. Examples:
– I had a nice time yesterday– That is an interesting book– She is an old person– She is a beautiful girl
• Ambiguous language - also interfere with the clear expression of thoughts. An ambiguous word is a word with more than one (1) meaning that is open to different interpretations. Examples:
– He fed her dog biscuits– The duck is ready to eat– Flying planes can be dangerous– The shooting of the hunter disturbed him
The Rock says you
should avoidavoid vague and ambiguous language.
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What is Language?
• Language: A symbolic means of communication that is shared by several individuals– Symbolic: words symbolize or represent ideas
and concepts
– Communication: thoughts → public message
– Shared: known to more than one user
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Characteristics of Language
Semanticity • speech sounds = meaning (unlike clearing your
throat, coughing)
Arbitrariness • Symbols of language (letters & sounds -> words) have
no direct relationship with the meaning they convey– Exception: onomatopoeia
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Characteristics of Language
Productivity (Infinity)• Language is generative• With a small number of words and grammatical rules,
one can generate an infinite number of utterances
Flexibility• Connection between a word and its meaning is not
fixed• Novel words (neologisms)• Other word for the same concept
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Natural Language
Language that develops automatically in humans
Modes of natural languageORAL = SPOKEN LANGUAGE
MANUAL = SIGN LANGUAGE
e.g. ASL = American Sign Language
NOTE: this is NOT the same as body language / gestures
(We will NOT be concerned with body language and gestures.)
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Spoken vs. Written Language
Spoken Languagenatural system
biologically determined
develops automatically
“acquired” – not “learned”
Written Languageextra, superimposed system
culturally determined
optional
“learned” intentionally
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What does it mean to know a language?
Knowledge of the Sound System (Phonetics and Phonology)
Knowledge of words (Morphology and Lexicon)
Knowledge of structure: how to form correct sentences (Syntax)
Knowledge of meaning (Semantics)
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Pronunciation: Level of Phonetics/Phonology
WHITE DOVE WHITE DOVE / /
baak6 gaap2
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Word Form/ Structure: Level of Morphology
• Two morphemes: {white} and {dove}• Cantonese (Hong Kong Chinese):
– hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1 'The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)’
– hoeng1 gong2 wui6 ji5 zin2 laam5 zung1 sam1 ‘The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Centre’
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Phrase/ Sentence Structure: Level of Syntax
WHITE DOVE• PS rule:
NP A + N
• Tree diagram:
(1) Who did you see Chan with? (2)*Who did you see Chan and?(3) ngo5 heoi3 zung1 waan4(4) heoi3 zung1 waan4(5)*zung1 waan4 heoi3 ngo5
NP
A N | | white dove
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Meaning: Level of Semantics
• English:a. Chan loves you more than
Yan. could mean:
b. Chan loves you more than Yan loves you.
c. Chan loves you more than Chan loves Yan.
• Cantonese: a. me1 waa2 ?
could mean: b. What did you say?c. What language?
What does the sign, white dovewhite dove, mean?
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Meaning:Level of Pragmatics
• What would white dove mean in some specialized contexts, cultures, etc.?
• Pragmatics: meaning in context– It’s hot!!
hou2 jit6 aa3‘Hot’=
1._________2._________
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Topics in linguistics
• PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY• MORPHOLOGY• SYNTAX• GRAMMAR• SEMANTICS