Ch. 1&2
Is language arbitrary? What does this mean?
Yes. It means that words are chosen randomly & on a whim - not for any specific reason.
Is body language subconscious? Explain a little.
Yes. Sometimes we do things that we do not realize we have done.
What is a morpheme?
The smallest part of a word that still has meaning.
What was the first known civilization to develop a writing system?
The Sumerians!
Who lived in Great Britain first?
The Celts
What are the three medias we use to express language?
Speaking and listening, reading, and signing.
What is needed to produce sound?
Air!
Divide ”teacher” into its morphemes. What does each part mean?
Teach - to impart knowledge on someone
Er- someone who does something
Teacher- someone who imparts knowledge on children
How are most signed languages named? Give an example.
After the country from which they originate. American sign language
Where do we get the name “Great Britain?”
What is a linguist?
What happens if you injure Wernicke’s area? Hint: Jabberwocky
You speak in a way that sounds fluid and grammatical but is nonsensical in meaning.
Which morpheme in “disappearance” makes it a noun? Explain your answer.
“-ance” “Disappear” is a verb- when you add “-ance” to it it becomes a noun.
Which of the 5 biggest world languages has the most speakers? About how many does it have?
Mandarin (Chinese)- around 900 million (or more)
What two languages combined to create Old English?
Norse and Anglo-Saxon
What is an onomatopoeia? Give an example.
A word that sounds like what it is. Example: WHOOOOSH!
Explain how speech sounds are made.
Air comes up through the lungs and through the vocal tract.
Name two different words where the “f” sound is spelled with “pf,” “ff,” or “ph.”
Graph, fluff, phony
What is an agglutinative language? Give an example.
It is a language in which words are formed by adding affixes onto a base. Hungarian.
What is the common theme found in the words we adopted from the Normans?
Government !
We know exactly how language began- true or false? Explain your answer.
False. There are many theories as to how language began, but we cannot be totally certain. All we know is that human beings have always possessed it.
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain’s ability to build or connect parts as a part of learning or as a result of injury.
Words that are spelled the same, but are not pronounced the same and have different meanings and origins are…. Give an example.
Homograph: Bass (Fish ) and bass guitar.
What is an isolating language? Bonus: give an example of this kind of language or where it is spoken
An isolating language is a language in which every word is a morpheme. Basque! - Spain/ France
What is the Old English word for blood?
Blod