The Linguistic Facts of Life1The LinguisticFacts of LifeThe LinguisticFacts of Life2What is Languageand What Does it Do?What is Languageand What Does it Do?• Introduction• Why study language?• What is language?• A system• The potential to create new meanings• Multiple functions• Language diversity• Power and society• Introduction• Why study language?• What is language?• A system• The potential to create new meanings• Multiple functions• Language diversity• Power and society3The Linguistic SystemThe Linguistic System• Phonetics and Phonology• Syntax• Morphology• The Lexicon• Semantics• Phonetics and Phonology• Syntax• Morphology• The Lexicon• SemanticsThe Linguistic Facts of Life24Phonetics and PhonologyPhonetics and PhonologyPhonetics is the study of …• Speech sounds• How they are produced in the vocal tract (articulatory phonetics)• Their physical properties (acoustic phonetics)• How they are perceived (auditory phonetics)Phonetics is the study of …• Speech sounds• How they are produced in the vocal tract (articulatory phonetics)• Their physical properties (acoustic phonetics)• How they are perceived (auditory phonetics)5Phonetics and PhonologyPhonetics and PhonologyPhonology is the study of …• The sound system of a language• How the particular sounds contrast in each language to form an integrated system for encoding information• How sound systems differ from one language to anotherPhonology is the study of …• The sound system of a language• How the particular sounds contrast in each language to form an integrated system for encoding information• How sound systems differ from one language to another6PhoneticsPhonetics• What sounds have you heard in other languages that are not in English?• Exactly how do you move your articulators to pronounce the ttsound in butter?• What two English sounds are often confused when they are heard on the telephone?• What sounds have you heard in other languages that are not in English?• Exactly how do you move your articulators to pronounce the ttsound in butter?• What two English sounds are often confused when they are heard on the telephone?The Linguistic Facts of Life37PhonologyPhonology• How does the pronunciation of s differ in “he talks”and “she snores”?• What English sounds never occur at the beginning of words?• How can you say That looks interesting as• A statement?• A question?• Ironically?• How does the pronunciation of s differ in “he talks”and “she snores”?• What English sounds never occur at the beginning of words?• How can you say That looks interesting as• A statement?• A question?• Ironically?8MorphologyMorphologyMorphology is . . .• The structure of words in a language, including patterns of inflections and derivation• The study of how words are formed in a languageMorphology is . . .• The structure of words in a language, including patterns of inflections and derivation• The study of how words are formed in a language9MorphologyMorphology• Identify the morphemes in Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious• Which morphemes are derivational?• Which morphemes are inflectional?• Is this potentially an English word?• Identify the morphemes in Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious• Which morphemes are derivational?• Which morphemes are inflectional?• Is this potentially an English word?The Linguistic Facts of Life410Descriptive and Prescriptive GrammarDescriptive and Prescriptive Grammar• Descriptive grammar is the objective description of a speaker’s knowledge of a language (competence) based on their use of the language (performance).• Prescriptive grammar is a set of rules designed to give instructions regarding the “correct” or “proper” way to speak or write.• Descriptive grammar is the objective description of a speaker’s knowledge of a language (competence) based on their use of the language (performance).• Prescriptive grammar is a set of rules designed to give instructions regarding the “correct” or “proper” way to speak or write.11Descriptive or prescriptive?Descriptive or prescriptive?• Never end a sentence with a preposition.• In casual styles of speaking, people frequently end sentences with prepositions, but this is generally avoided in formal styles.• Between you and me is correct;Between you and I is ungrammatical.• Never end a sentence with a preposition.• In casual styles of speaking, people frequently end sentences with prepositions, but this is generally avoided in formal styles.• Between you and me is correct;Between you and I is ungrammatical.12Variation in Modern Spoken EnglishVariation in Modern Spoken English• “Ain’t no way he’s gonna.”• “Danny gone – he be working down to the factory.”• “Whatsa matter you?”• “He said he may can have these by the first of the month.”• “Ain’t no way he’s gonna.”• “Danny gone – he be working down to the factory.”• “Whatsa matter you?”• “He said he may can have these by the first of the month.”• “Between you and I, he’s wrong.”• “Coffee I can always drink, so pour me.”• “Meat’s so expensive anymore that we eat a lot of macaroni.”• “Down the shore everything’s all right.”• “Between you and I, he’s wrong.”• “Coffee I can always drink, so pour me.”• “Meat’s so expensive anymore that we eat a lot of macaroni.”• “Down the shore everything’s all right.”The Linguistic Facts of Life513Variation in Modern Spoken EnglishVariation in Modern Spoken English• “Those boots sure are fly.”• “If you’re going out I’m coming with.”• “Mr. Vincent took a heart attack.”• “Those boots sure are fly.”• “If you’re going out I’m coming with.”• “Mr. Vincent took a heart attack.”• “So she goes, like, no, it’s way late for that.”• “The data shows that the hypothesis can’t be supported.”• “Put it in your pocket.”• “So she goes, like, no, it’s way late for that.”• “The data shows that the hypothesis can’t be supported.”• “Put it in your pocket.”14English Changes Over TimeEnglish Changes Over TimeIc þis giedd wrece bi me ful geomorre, minresylfresið. Icþætsecganmæg, hwæt ic yrmþa gebad, siþþan ic up weox, niwes oþþe ealdes, no ma þonne nu. From “The Wife’s Lament” (before 1072)Ic þis giedd wrece