Sophia Malamud Intro to LinguisticsLanguage as a human instinct1. Human language vs. other meanings of language [lan·guage]1 a. Communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.b. Such a system including its rules for combining its components, such as words.c. Such a system as used by a nation, people, or other distinct community; often contrasted with dialect.2 a. A system of signs, symbols, gestures, or rules used in communicating: the language of algebra.b. Computer Science A system of symbols and rules used for communication with or between computers.3 Body language; kinesics.4 The special vocabulary and usages of a scientific, professional, or other group: "his total mastery of screen language -- camera placement, editing -- and his handling of actors" (Jack Kroll)5 A characteristic style of speech or writing: Shakespearean language.6 A particular manner of expression: profane language; persuasive language.7 The manner or means of communication between living creatures other than humans: the language of dolphins.8 Verbal communication as a subject of study.9 The wording of a legal document or statute as distinct from the spirit.American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. In linguistics, language is 1. the pattern of human speech 2. the (implicit) systems that speaking and listening rely onOther things are "language" because of connections or analogies to this central case: writingcomputer languagesthe language of dolphins or bees… Exception: sign languages - full-fledged human languages, so central, not peripheral object of linguistic study12. Primacy of spoken language (vs. written) • French langue (same root as English language ) • Greek glossa • Russian jazyk • Irish teanga • Hebrew lâshôn • Hausa (a Chadic language of Nigeria and Niger ) harshèe • and of course English tongue! The core of the field of linguistics – the analysis of spoken linguistic structure.3. Pinker: language is an instinctEvidence:1. All human societies have full-fledged complex language. (No known exceptions, now or in the past)E.g., Mohawk prefixes vs English “we”2. Language is spontaneously created in the form of Creoles where it would otherwise be lacking.E.g., Tok Pisin agreement3. Children use language productively in ways they couldn't be simply repeating.E.g., holded, bringed, mouses; wug test (people with Specific Language Impairment fail the wug test)4. Damage to specific parts of the brain leads to consistent language deficits.E.g., Wernike’s aphasia vs Broca’s aphasia4. Nicaraguan Sign LanguageAnn Senghas:“Thirty years ago, Nicaragua had no sign language… Today, Nicaragua has a rich, developed sign language… ... Nicaraguan Sign Language came from the same place that all languages came from – human minds, trying to connect with other human minds.”o Not imported from another country. o Not invented by teachers or parents.o Not made up by deaf adults. Before 1970 – separate “home sign” systems in each person 1977 – school established with 50 young deaf children. o Grows to 100 by 1979; vocational school for adolescents in 1980, o over 400 students enrolled in two schools by 1983. Teachers tried teaching Spanish and lipreadingo students fail to acquire the concept of words, or of spelling Children created a pidgin from their home-sign systems: Lenguaje de Signos Nicaragüense (LSN)2 In June 1986, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education contacted Judy Kegl, an American Sign Language linguist from Northeastern University. o Kegl and colleagues noticed that the young children had taken the pidgin-like form of the older children to a higher level of complexity.o This full and complex sign language is now known as Idioma de Señas de Nicaragua (ISN).Home sign | LSN (pidgin) | ISN (creole) Continuous signs | Continuous signs | Discrete signs Iconicity | A bit of arbitrariness | More arbitrariness LSN: 20 – flashing fingers of both hands twice | arbitrary sign, one hand No “grammatical” words | No “grammatical words | Rich verb agreement, etc. Two-word sentences |Longer sentences (not much) | Sentences of any length Thematic roles: must be mentioned | Roles indicated on the | verb grammatically