Theoretical Linguistics
2021-2022
L. Arends
FONTYS | MASTER’S
,Index
Summary Theoretical linguistics................................................................................................................................3
Weblecture 1: What is language?.........................................................................................................................3
Chapter 1 Languages and Linguistics, p.1-17, 21-23.............................................................................................4
Languages as patterned structures...................................................................................................................5
Speech as patterned language use: Communicative competence...................................................................5
Modes of linguistic communication..................................................................................................................5
The origin of human languages: Babel to Babble.............................................................................................5
What is linguistics?............................................................................................................................................6
Weblecture 2: Animals and Language...................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1 Languages and Linguistics: Do only humans have language? p.17-21................................................7
How animals communicate in their natural environment................................................................................7
Can chimpanzees learn a human language?.....................................................................................................7
Summary chapter 1...............................................................................................................................................8
Weblecture 3: word parts with meaning or function...........................................................................................9
Chapter 2 Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology p.32-46................................................................10
What does it mean yo know a word?.............................................................................................................10
Lexical categories (parts of speech)................................................................................................................10
How are morphemes organized within words?..............................................................................................12
Weblecture 4: How does language increase its vocabulary?.............................................................................12
Chapter 2 Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology p.46-62................................................................14
Summary chapter 2.............................................................................................................................................15
Weblecture 5: Syntax (1).....................................................................................................................................16
Chapter 5 The structure and function of phrases and sentences: syntax p.153-166.........................................17
Weblecture 6: Syntax (2).....................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 5 The structure and function of phrases and sentences: syntax p.166-179.........................................18
Summary chapter 5.............................................................................................................................................19
Weblecture 7: Semantics (1)...............................................................................................................................19
Chapter 6 The study of meaning: Semantics p.187-208.....................................................................................21
Linguistic, social and affective meaning..........................................................................................................21
Word, sentence and utterance meaning........................................................................................................22
Weblectur 8: Semantics (2).................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 6 The study of meaning: Semantics p.208-224.....................................................................................24
Summary chapter 6.............................................................................................................................................25
Chapter 7 Language Universals p. 232-257.........................................................................................................26
Summary chapter 7.............................................................................................................................................26
L. ARENDS 1
,Weblecture 9: Pragmatics: Information Structure..............................................................................................27
Weblecture 10: Pragmatics 2..............................................................................................................................28
Weblecture 11: Steven Pinker.............................................................................................................................30
L. ARENDS 2
, SUMMARY THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS
WEBLECTURE 1: WHAT IS LANGUAGE?
Three faces of language:
- Meaning
- Expression
- Context
Context necessary to correctly understand the meaning of a sentence.
Expression and meaning are linked by grammar.
Grammar and interpretation are linked by context.
Grammar + context = language can be understood
Expression:
Words, phrases and sentences
Meaning:
Refers to the senses and referent of those elements of expression
Context:
Social situation, includes whatever has been expressed earlier, shared knowledge between speaker and hearer
Nonarbitrary signs:
Smoke sign of fire
Clouds sign of impeding rain
Arbitrary signs:
traffic lights colours can be changed, meaning stays the same
Railroad crossing indicators, national flags conventional representations
Language: is a system of arbitrary signs!
Iconic signs suggest what they mean representational signs
Linguistics is the science of language.
Science is a fancy word for knowledge.
7 things linguists agree on:
1. Language is uniquely human
a. Every child learns language
b. Every human society uses language for communication
c. All languages have certain features in common
d. Certain parts of your brain handle language
e. Human language differs from animal communication
2. Language is a system of rules
a. Grammar of a language
b. Knowing a language = knowing these rules
L. ARENDS 3
2021-2022
L. Arends
FONTYS | MASTER’S
,Index
Summary Theoretical linguistics................................................................................................................................3
Weblecture 1: What is language?.........................................................................................................................3
Chapter 1 Languages and Linguistics, p.1-17, 21-23.............................................................................................4
Languages as patterned structures...................................................................................................................5
Speech as patterned language use: Communicative competence...................................................................5
Modes of linguistic communication..................................................................................................................5
The origin of human languages: Babel to Babble.............................................................................................5
What is linguistics?............................................................................................................................................6
Weblecture 2: Animals and Language...................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1 Languages and Linguistics: Do only humans have language? p.17-21................................................7
How animals communicate in their natural environment................................................................................7
Can chimpanzees learn a human language?.....................................................................................................7
Summary chapter 1...............................................................................................................................................8
Weblecture 3: word parts with meaning or function...........................................................................................9
Chapter 2 Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology p.32-46................................................................10
What does it mean yo know a word?.............................................................................................................10
Lexical categories (parts of speech)................................................................................................................10
How are morphemes organized within words?..............................................................................................12
Weblecture 4: How does language increase its vocabulary?.............................................................................12
Chapter 2 Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology p.46-62................................................................14
Summary chapter 2.............................................................................................................................................15
Weblecture 5: Syntax (1).....................................................................................................................................16
Chapter 5 The structure and function of phrases and sentences: syntax p.153-166.........................................17
Weblecture 6: Syntax (2).....................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 5 The structure and function of phrases and sentences: syntax p.166-179.........................................18
Summary chapter 5.............................................................................................................................................19
Weblecture 7: Semantics (1)...............................................................................................................................19
Chapter 6 The study of meaning: Semantics p.187-208.....................................................................................21
Linguistic, social and affective meaning..........................................................................................................21
Word, sentence and utterance meaning........................................................................................................22
Weblectur 8: Semantics (2).................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 6 The study of meaning: Semantics p.208-224.....................................................................................24
Summary chapter 6.............................................................................................................................................25
Chapter 7 Language Universals p. 232-257.........................................................................................................26
Summary chapter 7.............................................................................................................................................26
L. ARENDS 1
,Weblecture 9: Pragmatics: Information Structure..............................................................................................27
Weblecture 10: Pragmatics 2..............................................................................................................................28
Weblecture 11: Steven Pinker.............................................................................................................................30
L. ARENDS 2
, SUMMARY THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS
WEBLECTURE 1: WHAT IS LANGUAGE?
Three faces of language:
- Meaning
- Expression
- Context
Context necessary to correctly understand the meaning of a sentence.
Expression and meaning are linked by grammar.
Grammar and interpretation are linked by context.
Grammar + context = language can be understood
Expression:
Words, phrases and sentences
Meaning:
Refers to the senses and referent of those elements of expression
Context:
Social situation, includes whatever has been expressed earlier, shared knowledge between speaker and hearer
Nonarbitrary signs:
Smoke sign of fire
Clouds sign of impeding rain
Arbitrary signs:
traffic lights colours can be changed, meaning stays the same
Railroad crossing indicators, national flags conventional representations
Language: is a system of arbitrary signs!
Iconic signs suggest what they mean representational signs
Linguistics is the science of language.
Science is a fancy word for knowledge.
7 things linguists agree on:
1. Language is uniquely human
a. Every child learns language
b. Every human society uses language for communication
c. All languages have certain features in common
d. Certain parts of your brain handle language
e. Human language differs from animal communication
2. Language is a system of rules
a. Grammar of a language
b. Knowing a language = knowing these rules
L. ARENDS 3
