English 121English 121TopicsTopics

1. Origins of English1. Origins of English2. Basics of Language2. Basics of Language

Origins of English: How do we Origins of English: How do we know about this?know about this?

The Venerable Bede tells us that the The Venerable Bede tells us that the Scots and the Picts in the north were Scots and the Picts in the north were driving the Britons to the sea. The driving the Britons to the sea. The king of the Britons, King Vortigern, king of the Britons, King Vortigern, looks for help. looks for help.

Where did he turn?Where did he turn?

No Match for the farmers of BritonNo Match for the farmers of BritonNo help from RomeNo help from Rome

Origins of English: Invasion by the Origins of English: Invasion by the Angles, Saxons, and JutesAngles, Saxons, and Jutes

Further immigration by these Further immigration by these Germanic tribes (particularly Angles Germanic tribes (particularly Angles

and Saxons) lead to…and Saxons) lead to…

English is a Germanic LanguageEnglish is a Germanic Language

But what do we mean by But what do we mean by language?language?

Communication?Communication? Speech?Speech? Writing?Writing? Sounds?Sounds? Words?Words? Sentences?Sentences? ??????????

What is linguistics?What is linguistics?

Subfields of LinguisticsSubfields of Linguistics

PhonologyPhonology MorphologyMorphology SyntaxSyntax SemanticsSemantics PragmaticsPragmatics Language VariationLanguage Variation

PhonologyPhonology

How do sounds form words?How do sounds form words?

bat----batsbat----bats bag----bagsbag----bags bus----bussesbus----busses

How do “bats”, “bags”, and How do “bats”, “bags”, and “busses” sound different?“busses” sound different?

Different soundsDifferent sounds

bat-bat-SSbag-bag-ZZbus-bus-IZIZ

How do you know this?How do you know this?

Nonsense wordsNonsense words

blitblit

blagblag

blusblus

What do you get?What do you get?

blitSblitS

blagZblagZ

blusIZblusIZ

MorphologyMorphology

Meaningful units of language that are Meaningful units of language that are not necessarily wordsnot necessarily words

I am happy.I am happy.

I am unhappy.I am unhappy.

What is “un”?What is “un”?

Morphology (cont’d.)Morphology (cont’d.)

1. I 1. I agreeagree with you. with you. My My agreementagreement with you was not with you was not

successful.successful. He is He is agreeable.agreeable.

What is “-ment”?What is “-ment”? What is “-able”?What is “-able”?

Syntax: Syntax: How do words combine to form sentences?How do words combine to form sentences?

Inevitable the of was city Inevitable the of was city destruction the.destruction the.

Is this an acceptable sentence?Is this an acceptable sentence?

SemanticsSemantics

The study of word meaning.The study of word meaning.

What is the relationship between aWhat is the relationship between ar-o-c-k and what it represents?r-o-c-k and what it represents?

Meaning in language is largely Meaning in language is largely arbitrary.arbitrary.

PragmaticsPragmatics

The relationship between language The relationship between language and context that is necessary for and context that is necessary for meaning.meaning.

Example…Example…

““I am 85 years old.”I am 85 years old.”

What is the problem with this?What is the problem with this?

Context tells you that it is not true.Context tells you that it is not true.

The sentence is perfectly formed.The sentence is perfectly formed.

A more complex exampleA more complex example

“ “Mary wanted to buy a present for Mary wanted to buy a present for Sarah. She went to her piggy bank Sarah. She went to her piggy bank and shook it. There was no noise. and shook it. There was no noise. Mary decided that she would have to Mary decided that she would have to make a present for Sarah.”make a present for Sarah.”

How does shaking a bank lead Mary to How does shaking a bank lead Mary to her conclusion?her conclusion?

Language VariationLanguage Variation

What do you call What do you call this?this?

What do you call this?What do you call this?

What do you call this?What do you call this?

Any other examples?Any other examples?

How do you say…How do you say…

caughtcaught cotcot batbat New YorkNew York pinpin penpen

Any others?Any others?

What do you say when something What do you say when something is fun?is fun?

That was awesome!That was awesome! That was the bomb!That was the bomb! That was a hoot!That was a hoot! That was a rip-roaring time!That was a rip-roaring time!

How do you ask your professor for How do you ask your professor for some extra time on an assignment?some extra time on an assignment?

Choose the best answer:Choose the best answer:

a. I need time. Give it to me.a. I need time. Give it to me.

b. Would it be possible to hand in b. Would it be possible to hand in my assignment late, please?my assignment late, please?

Language VariationLanguage Variation

Language varies by:Language varies by:– RegionRegion– TimeTime– AgeAge– Social classSocial class– GenderGender– ContextContext

Subfields of LanguageSubfields of Language

PhonologyPhonology MorphologyMorphology SyntaxSyntax SemanticsSemantics PragmaticsPragmatics Language variationLanguage variation

Homework handed out (Due 09/08)Homework handed out (Due 09/08)

Next class:Next class:– SOE chapter 1 (“An English-Speaking SOE chapter 1 (“An English-Speaking

World”)World”)