Paper
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What is language? Design features Animal communication vs. human language
What is language?
Readings: 1.4, 14.1-14.2
LING 200 -- McGarrity
1
LING 200 -- McGarrity
2
Design features
Charles Hockett (1960)
3
9 Design features
Mode of Communication Semanticity Pragmatic function Interchangeability Cultural transmission Arbitrariness Discreteness Displacement Productivity
LING 200 -- McGarrity
Shared by all communication systems
They characterize language, distinguish it from other communication systems If a system lacks even one feature, it is communication, not language
LING 200 -- McGarrity 3
+
6
Shared by some communication systems
4
Interchangeability
A user can both transmit and receive messages
Cultural transmission
At least some aspect of communication system is learned from other users
e.g., Chinese child of French-speaking parents will learn... French
LING 200 -- McGarrity
5
LING 200 -- McGarrity
6
1
Arbitrariness
There is no (necessary) connection between the form of signal and its meaning
e.g., ‘whale’ is a small word for a big animal; ‘microorganism’ is just the reverse
Arbitrariness
Even onomatopoeia can be arbitrary… cock-a-doodle-doo (English)
kokekokko kukuku
(Mandarin) (Japanese)
cocorico
(French)
kikiriki
(Spanish)
8
LING 200 -- McGarrity
7
LING 200 -- McGarrity
Discreteness
Larger, complex messages can be broken down into smaller, discrete parts [tap] t e.g., [apt]
Displacement
Ability to talk about things not present in space or time
e.g., [pat]
p a
LING 200 -- McGarrity
9
LING 200 -- McGarrity
10
Productivity
Speakers can create infinite number of novel utterances that others can understand Elvis lives!! Vervet monkeys
3 Alarm calls for different predators
‘snake’ ‘eagle’ ‘leopard’ http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/media/vervetcalls.html e.g., “Little purple gnomes living in my sock drawer
What is language? Design features Animal communication vs. human language
What is language?
Readings: 1.4, 14.1-14.2
LING 200 -- McGarrity
1
LING 200 -- McGarrity
2
Design features
Charles Hockett (1960)
3
9 Design features
Mode of Communication Semanticity Pragmatic function Interchangeability Cultural transmission Arbitrariness Discreteness Displacement Productivity
LING 200 -- McGarrity
Shared by all communication systems
They characterize language, distinguish it from other communication systems If a system lacks even one feature, it is communication, not language
LING 200 -- McGarrity 3
+
6
Shared by some communication systems
4
Interchangeability
A user can both transmit and receive messages
Cultural transmission
At least some aspect of communication system is learned from other users
e.g., Chinese child of French-speaking parents will learn... French
LING 200 -- McGarrity
5
LING 200 -- McGarrity
6
1
Arbitrariness
There is no (necessary) connection between the form of signal and its meaning
e.g., ‘whale’ is a small word for a big animal; ‘microorganism’ is just the reverse
Arbitrariness
Even onomatopoeia can be arbitrary… cock-a-doodle-doo (English)
kokekokko kukuku
(Mandarin) (Japanese)
cocorico
(French)
kikiriki
(Spanish)
8
LING 200 -- McGarrity
7
LING 200 -- McGarrity
Discreteness
Larger, complex messages can be broken down into smaller, discrete parts [tap] t e.g., [apt]
Displacement
Ability to talk about things not present in space or time
e.g., [pat]
p a
LING 200 -- McGarrity
9
LING 200 -- McGarrity
10
Productivity
Speakers can create infinite number of novel utterances that others can understand Elvis lives!! Vervet monkeys
3 Alarm calls for different predators
‘snake’ ‘eagle’ ‘leopard’ http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/media/vervetcalls.html e.g., “Little purple gnomes living in my sock drawer