TA S K 2 - T H E N AT U R E O F L I N G U I S T I C S A N D L A N G U A G E

VIVIANA G. FLOREZ, EDINSON L. GONZÁLEZ Y ANGIE X.

MORALES
U N I V E R S I D A D N A C I O N A L A B I E R TA Y A D I S TA N C I A U N A D
518017- 68, INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
TUTORA LUZ ADRIANA PERDOMO
5 DE OCTUBRE DE 2020
Step 2: Answers - Based on the first document, do Exercise 1.4 in page 13. You have
six phrases and you have to identify them to whom the phrases might belong. What
does the quote tell you about their perspective on the study and analysis of
language?”

1.“If we could embrace the sum of word-images

stored in the minds of all individuals, we could
identify the social bond that constitutes language.
It is a storehouse filled by the members of a given
community through their active use of speaking,
a grammatical system that has a potential existence
in each brain, or, specifically, in the brains of a group
of individuals. For language is not complete in any
speaker; it exists perfectly only within a collectivity”.

Language is social so that we can communicate without language barriers independently.

Regarding the analysis of language, our brain constitutes a fundamental part of language
since the active use of speech allows individuals to communicate with each other to build
the language that will be understood between members of the community, since there is a
link in the images. of the words stored in each individual human brain with language to
be expressed in phrases with meanings that each person in the community in their
subjectivity gives their own meaning.
2. “It seems clear that we must regard linguistic competence – knowledge of a language –
as an abstract system underlying behavior, a system constituted by rules that interact to
determine the form and intrinsic meaning of a potentially infinite number of sentences”.
Noam Chomsky.
According to the perspective of Noam Chomsky
and article, we think that man has a mental deposit
of rules, which are language or dialect and are
organized into linguistic elements in well-formed
chains; that is, each of us has syntactic experience
in mind in terms of a set of finite rules, which
allows us to generate an infinite number of
sentences.
Since language behaviors have their rules, these in
turn can be observed and described for a better
understanding by the human being.

Analyzing the study of the language, we can say that the language has its rules and
according to these as the person uses them, there are an infinite number of sentences,
which interacting with other individual behaviors are given to facilitate the learning of
the language. language that words are being used.
 3. “Every text – that is, everything that is said or written – unfolds in some context of use;
furthermore, it is the uses of language that, over tens of thousands of generations, have
shaped the system. Language has evolved to satisfy human needs; and the way it is
organized is functional with respect to these needs”. Michael Halliday

According to the prospect of Michael Halliday, the language ,

whether written or through voice contact with other
individuals giving the process of acquiring the language in
the language you are talking about the person, and will
evolve with new generations and that human beings have the
ability from birth to acquire language. And thanks to this
ability to communicate with our words and l language has
transmitted or thousands of generations and has been
evolving to meet the human needs of communication with
our neighbors , whether in text , or voice .
In the analysis of the study of language, it can be
communicated in writing or verbally giving its uses to
humanity so that society evolves by satisfying the needs of
human beings with the uses of language to communicate in
an organized way.
 4.”Linguistic theory is concerned primarily with an ideal speaker-hearer, in a completely
homogeneous speech community, who knows its language perfectly and is unaffected by
such grammatically irrelevant conditions as memory limitations, distractions, shifts of
attention and interest, errors (random or characteristic) in applying his knowledge of the
language in actual performance". Noam Chomsky

According to the perspective of Noam Chomsky, the actual use of the language or the
performance it is just the tip of the iceberg of competition linguistics, or mental underlying
processes that we perform in our production of language. Each of us has a mental repository
of the rules by which our language or dialect applies to reality. the language of the speaker
in your community.
As for the analysis of language, l to quote from Noam Chomsky tells us that language is
primarily the speaker - receiver as principal beings in the language to apply their knowledge
in reality, the community as a hub to transmit them to each generation.
5. “Language is a system of interdependent terms in which the value of each term results
solely from the simultaneous presence of the others ... [for example]. To determine what a
five-franc piece is worth one most know: (1) that it can be exchanged for a fixed quantity of
a different thing, e.g. bread; and (2) that it can be compared with a similar value of the same
system, e.g. a one-franc piece, or with coins of another system (a dollar, etc.). In the same
way a word can be exchanged for something dissimilar, an idea; besides, it can be compared
with something of the same nature, another word. Its value is therefore not fixed so long as
one simply states that it can be ‘exchanged’ for a given concept”. Ferdinand de Saussure

According to this perspective , Saussure regarded language as a system of signs , which

consist of two parts: meaning and significance . The meaning is the concept referred to, and
the meaning is the label used for that concept , the text tells me that the value of the word is
not fixed since it has two meanings that can be exchanged for the same meaning , being the
word in this case or by an idea being this very enriching for the language , being infinite the
sentences that can be put together through these .
In the study of language, what I analyze about the quote is that language is universal and
understandable for the person , since the words communicate , it does not matter if they are
phrases, ideas , conjectures or the same words ; its value is not fixed, it is molded according
to the context of the speaker - receiver.
6-‘Spoken and written language, then, tend to display different KINDS of complexity; each
of them is more complex in its own way. Written language tends to be lexically dense but
grammatically simple; spoken language tends to be grammatically intricate but lexically
sparse’ ... ‘The value of having some explicit knowledge of the grammar of written
language is that you can use this knowledge, not only to analyze the texts, but as a critical
resource for asking questions about them.’ Michael Halliday

According to the prospect of Michael Halliday , that detected attention to the relationship
between meaning and context that surrounds some language , as these two actions speak
and write encourage grammar in particular and that of written language where it can be
used to inquire about what is read.
 
As for the analysis of language, it is complex in the world by itself , humans can do the
process of reading and speaking , since it is something wonderful . The written part of
communication carries many benefits over language , being useful to analyze texts and to
refute them because with words and ideas humanity has evolved to be what it is until now..
b) Based on the second text 'Linguistics' in “Bauer, Laurie; The Linguistic Student's
Handbook ”Answer the following question: why is Linguistic definitely considered a science?
In your answer, involve the other language areas such as semiotics, philology and literature.
Language is one of science because it deals with the observation and classification of the
phenomena of language. It is methodical and specific, because it is methodical, because it uses
steps during its investigation, it is systematic, because it maintains an order (observe and then
conclude), it has its own terminology, this according to its theories or research, that is why we can
consider linguistics a science. These phenomena are: the sounds of speech, words, languages ​and
ways of using language. In short, linguistics is the science of language, it studies the structure of
natural languages ​and the knowledge that the speaker has of them. Semiotics is the science derived
from philosophy that deals with communication systems within human societies, studying signs,
as a basis for understanding all human activity. Philology is the science that studies texts and in
them the structure and evolution of a language and its historical and literary development, as well
as the literature and culture of the people or group of peoples that have been produced. For its part,
literature is an art form based on the use of both written and oral language, and among all these
branches these differ enormously in linguistics.
The analysis of language is focused on the means of communication between human beings,
where it is the basis of thought and memory support. Additionally, language is different from
normative grammar, because it does not deal with the study of norms, nor grammar, because it
only makes a scientific analysis of human language that means that it does not intend to teach
anyone how to write or talk.
 
 
In the next two questions you have to consult and then explain: The concept of
'double articulation' is classic when it comes to identifying language, please
explain it and give examples.
This concept refers to the procedure that the human being performs unconsciously.
Double articulation is an aspect of linguistic articulation consisting of the emission of
signs with meaning (words or sentences) through the emission of units that are
meaningless in themselves (allophones or phonemes).
"Second articulation" we address the units that do not have "meaning" that is, whose
function is oppositional, distinctive. We mean the phonemes.
In double articulation, two classes of linguistic units compete (as the name implies).
 
This process is only possible each time the speaker uses language
 
In the first articulation are those units that have known meaning as morphemes or
words. That is why we can say that house (place of room) is a morpheme.
 
When pronouncing the word house, the first articulation occurs; this pronunciation is
complete and fluent. At no time is it pronounced separately or sequentially. To say
“casa”, not sound is emitted for sound. That is, it is not pronounced first, the / c /, then
the / a /, then the / s / and, finally, the / a /. It is simply pronounced / “casa” /.
However, that linguistic unit that is the “casa” morpheme is made up, at the same time, of
other units that are phonemes. In the example we took as a reference, the morpheme “casa”
It is made up of four phonemes: / c /, / a /, / s /, / a /. In other words, when pronouncing the
word home, they implicitly and unconsciously pronounce these four phonemes. There
happens the second articulation.
Therefore, it can be said that double articulation is a simultaneous process in which
morphemes and phonemes of that morpheme intervene. It should be clear that the
morpheme is that unit that has meaning. Instead, a phoneme lacks this. But that's not the
only difference between morphemes and phonemes. Yes well, it does not make sense; the
phoneme is distinguished by having a sound.

Primer articulacion CASA

Segunda articulacion C/A/S/A

Other examples
He is my father. I can switch phonemes one by one. Here what I'm writing will be the
letters, but let's pretend they are representing the phonemes.
 

I will take the word (monema) "father".

 
* badre, cadre, dadre, father, gadre, iadre, jadre, bark, mother, radre, sadre

Each of the monemes is organized with their respective phonemes and this change of
phoneme causes the moneme to change its meaning. Then the second articulation is the
one that forms the significant units by combining the minimal units without meaning, that
is, the "phonemes"
Thanks to the double articulation it is possible that the combination of the units of both you
can create a first articulation with those of the second words and sentences uncountable.
The phonemes of a language are limited but combining them gives innumerable
morphemes.
 
c) Human language is different from other semiotic systems, it explains at least
three characteristics, which, according to Linguistics, are exclusive to human
language.

Productivity: It is a characteristic of language. It means that, from an always limited

number of words in a language, the speaker is capable of producing or formulating an
infinite number of sentences when he combines them according to the rules of
grammar. The ability of a speaker language to construct and understand an indefinitely
large number of sentences in our native language, including sentences that we have
never heard before. We use this ability instinctively and without reflection, without
consciously applying grammar rules. The term is also used in a more restrictive sense as
a reference to the use that a language makes of a specific aspect or pattern. This term is
related to compositionality in the sense that from simpler units we are allowed to
combine and create infinite structures.
Displacement: With language we are able to refer to distant concepts and events in the
space-time planes, consequently, we can communicate about elements that are not
present either temporally or spatially. Silence implies a here and now, so there can be no
space-time displacement in it.
It's universal:It is present in all human races and in any physical or temporal space.
Chinese, Hindus, Quechua and Madrilenians speak.
It is rational: It is related to intelligence and helps us to externalize our thoughts.
 REFERENCE

McCabe, A. (2011). An Introduction to Linguistics and Language Studies. Equinox

Publishing Ltd. 
http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?di
rect=true&db=nlebk&AN=547849&lang=es&site=eds-live&scope=site
 
[Big Think]. (2012, October 6). Steven Pinker: Linguistics as a Window to
Understanding the Brain [Video File]. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-B_ONJIEcE
Bauer, L. (2007). The Linguistic Student’s Handbook. Edinburgh University Press. 
http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?di
rect=true&db=nlebk&AN=194155&lang=es&site=eds-live&scope=site
 
Yule, G. (2010). The Study of Language. Cambridge University Press. 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B6-CuF71YxHs9DOgbe0HIuiiM17lPQzd/view