Language:Language:

Turning Thoughts Into WordsTurning Thoughts Into Words

Notes will go on p. 66 of your NBNotes will go on p. 66 of your NB

LanguageLanguage→ consists of symbols that → consists of symbols that convey meaning, plus rules for convey meaning, plus rules for combining those symbols, that can be combining those symbols, that can be used for an infinite variety of used for an infinite variety of messagesmessages

Properties of LanguageProperties of Language Language is Language is symbolicsymbolic- people use spoken sounds - people use spoken sounds

and written words to represent objects, actions, and written words to represent objects, actions, events and ideas.events and ideas.

Language is Language is semanticsemantic- it is meaningful. The - it is meaningful. The symbols used in a language are arbitrary in that symbols used in a language are arbitrary in that no built-in relationship exists between the look or no built-in relationship exists between the look or sound of words and the objects they stand for.sound of words and the objects they stand for.

Language is Language is generativegenerative- a limited number of - a limited number of symbols can be combined in an infinite variety of symbols can be combined in an infinite variety of ways to generate an endless array of novel ways to generate an endless array of novel messages.messages.

Language is Language is structuredstructured- rules govern the - rules govern the arrangement of words into phrases and arrangement of words into phrases and sentences; some arrangements are acceptable sentences; some arrangements are acceptable and some are not (“The swimmer jumped into the and some are not (“The swimmer jumped into the pool” vs. “Pool the into the jumped swimmer.”) pool” vs. “Pool the into the jumped swimmer.”)

The Structure of LanguageThe Structure of Language

PhonemesPhonemes→ the smallest speech units in → the smallest speech units in a language that can be distinguished a language that can be distinguished perceptibly (the sounds of letters)perceptibly (the sounds of letters)o The English language is composed of about 40 The English language is composed of about 40

phonemes, corresponding roughly to the 26 phonemes, corresponding roughly to the 26 letters of the alphabet plus several variations letters of the alphabet plus several variations (one letter can have more than one phoneme) (one letter can have more than one phoneme)

Human language has a hierarchical structure. Basic sounds are combined into words with meaning, which are combined into phrases and then sentences.

MorphemesMorphemes→ the smallest units of → the smallest units of meaning in a languagemeaning in a languageo There are approximately 50, 000 English There are approximately 50, 000 English

morphemes, which include root words as well morphemes, which include root words as well as prefixes and suffixesas prefixes and suffixes

o Example- Words such as “unfriendly” consist of Example- Words such as “unfriendly” consist of three morphemes- the prefixthree morphemes- the prefix un un, the root word , the root word friend,friend, and the suffix and the suffix lyly

On p. 65 in your NB, rank the On p. 65 in your NB, rank the following words in order from following words in order from

positive to negativepositive to negativeAFTER you are done, discuss your AFTER you are done, discuss your

answers as a classanswers as a class Thin, slim, gaunt, lanky, skinny, Thin, slim, gaunt, lanky, skinny,

slenderslender Smart, geeky, nerdy, brainy, quickSmart, geeky, nerdy, brainy, quick Aggressive, assertive, domineering, Aggressive, assertive, domineering,

dynamic, pushy, forcefuldynamic, pushy, forceful Unattractive, plain, dull, ugly, homelyUnattractive, plain, dull, ugly, homely

o SemanticsSemantics→ the area of language → the area of language concerned with understanding the concerned with understanding the meaning of words and word meaning of words and word combinationscombinations– A words meaning may consist of both its A words meaning may consist of both its

denotation,denotation, which is its dictionary which is its dictionary definition, and its definition, and its connotationconnotation, which , which includes its emotional overtones and includes its emotional overtones and secondary implications secondary implications

o Your answers to the questions on the previous slide had Your answers to the questions on the previous slide had to do with semantics. All of those words had similar to do with semantics. All of those words had similar denotations but their connotations vary.denotations but their connotations vary.

F E A R L E S S N E S SF E A R L E S S N E S S

Phonemes

(unit of sound)

Morphemes

(unit of meaning)

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ ■

■■■

Copy the word FEARLESSNESS onto page 65. Above it label each phoneme and state how many there are. Below it, label each morpheme and count state how many there are.

Language QuestionsLanguage QuestionsCopy each of these questions onto page 65 and write the answers. Copy each of these questions onto page 65 and write the answers.

1)1) How many morphemes does the word How many morphemes does the word “unfriendly” have?“unfriendly” have?

2)2) How many phonemes does the word How many phonemes does the word “shop” have?“shop” have?

3)3) How many morphemes does the word How many morphemes does the word “teachers” have?“teachers” have?

4)4) What does the word “mind” mean?What does the word “mind” mean?

5)5) Based on the vocabulary you learned Based on the vocabulary you learned today, question #4 is a __________ today, question #4 is a __________ question.question.

SyntaxSyntax

SyntaxSyntax→ a system of rules that → a system of rules that specify how words can be arranged specify how words can be arranged into sentencesinto sentenceso Simple rule- a sentence must have both Simple rule- a sentence must have both

a a noun phrasenoun phrase and a and a verb phraseverb phraseo Rules of syntax underlie all language Rules of syntax underlie all language

use, even though you may not be aware use, even though you may not be aware of themof them

Milestones in Language Milestones in Language DevelopmentDevelopment

First six months→ baby’s vocalizations are dominated by crying cooing and laughter, which have limited means of communications

Babbling stageBabbling stage

Babbling stageBabbling stage→ beginning at age 3 or 4 → beginning at age 3 or 4 months, stage of speech development in which months, stage of speech development in which the infant spontaneously utters various sounds at the infant spontaneously utters various sounds at first unrelated to the household languagefirst unrelated to the household languageo Babbling gradually becomes more complex and Babbling gradually becomes more complex and

increasingly resembles the language spoken by parents increasingly resembles the language spoken by parents and others in the child’s environmentand others in the child’s environment

o Trends reflect ongoing neural development and Trends reflect ongoing neural development and maturation of infant’s vocal apparatusmaturation of infant’s vocal apparatus

o Babbling lasts until around 18 months, even after Babbling lasts until around 18 months, even after children utter their first wordschildren utter their first words

o At around 10-13 months, most children begin to utter At around 10-13 months, most children begin to utter sounds that correspond to words sounds that correspond to words

One-word stageOne-word stage→ the stage in speech → the stage in speech development, from about age 1 to 2, during development, from about age 1 to 2, during which a child speaks mostly in single wordswhich a child speaks mostly in single wordso During this stage, an inflected word may equal a During this stage, an inflected word may equal a

sentence.sentence.• ““Doggy!” may mean “Look at the dog out there.”Doggy!” may mean “Look at the dog out there.”

o Toddlers often make errors when learning new Toddlers often make errors when learning new words:words:• OverextensionOverextension→ occurs when a child incorrectly uses → occurs when a child incorrectly uses

a word to describe a wider set of objects or actions a word to describe a wider set of objects or actions than it is meant tothan it is meant to

– Using the word Using the word ballball to describe anything round- oranges, to describe anything round- oranges, apples or even the moonapples or even the moon

• UnderextensionsUnderextensions→ occurs when a child incorrectly → occurs when a child incorrectly uses a word to describe a narrower set of objects or uses a word to describe a narrower set of objects or actions than it is meant toactions than it is meant to

– Using the word Using the word dolldoll to refer only to a single, favorite doll to refer only to a single, favorite doll

Two-word stageTwo-word stage→ beginning about age → beginning about age 2, the stage in speech development during 2, the stage in speech development during which a child speaks mostly two-word which a child speaks mostly two-word statementsstatementso Telegraphic speechTelegraphic speech→ consists mainly of → consists mainly of

content words; articles, prepositions and other content words; articles, prepositions and other less critical words are omitted less critical words are omitted • Child might say, “Give doll” rather than “Please give Child might say, “Give doll” rather than “Please give

me the doll.”me the doll.”o OverregularizationsOverregularizations→ occur when → occur when

grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized to irregular cases where they do not applyto irregular cases where they do not apply• Children will say things like, “The girl goed home.” or Children will say things like, “The girl goed home.” or

“I hitted the ball.”“I hitted the ball.”