Introduction to Linguistics UDE
Definitions from the Lecture Introduction to Linguistics from WiSe25/26 and SoSe26 UDE
Definitions from the Lecture Introduction to Linguistics from WiSe25/26 and SoSe26 UDE
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Cartes-fiches
Introspective
Relying on intuition of linguists
Empirical
Using authentic data as the basis of research
Theoretical approch of language
Developing a theoretical part
Applied approach of language
application of knowledge
language specific
only one language in focus
comparative
comparing languages to discover patterns
Descriptive
observing a particular part of language in a neutral way
Prescribtive
formulating rules for the correct use of particular language
Synchronic
Describing language at a specific time
Diachronic
Linguistic change through time
Formalism (Chomsky)
Units of language are combined into larger strings following rules
Meanings and functions are structured by syntax
Competence: mental knowledge
Performance: actual language use
Functionalism (Bühler: Organon Modell, 1934 & Jakobson: Six functions of language, 1960)
Units of language have certain functions; these functions and meanings explain the linguistic system and its structures
Structuralism (Saussure: the lingustic sign, 1916 & Odgen and Richards: Semiotic Triangle, 1923)
Language as an overarching structure; units of language are analysed in terms of their relationship within and to the system
Duality
2 Levels
1. limited set of discrete sounds and rules
2. infinite combinations (words and sentences)
-> human language is economical
Arbitrariness
no natural connection between sound and meaning (exceptions: onomatopoeia)
Reflexivity
language can be used to think/talk about itself -> metalinguistic function
Displacement
Language can be used to refer to context removed from the immediate situation
Recursion/Productivity
the ability to produce a theoretically infinite number of grammatical sentences
cultural + social transmission
language is taught + learned within a cultural context
Homophones (for single sounds)
same sound, different spelling (e.g. /u:/ , , , , , )
Homographs (for singel sounds)
different sound, same spelling (e.g. beat /i:/ , head /e/, great /ei/, heart /a:/)
Silent letters
e.g. knee, honest, psychology, debt
Missing letters
e.g. [j] in use, cute, new
Voicing of consonants
Vibration of the vocal cords
Voiceless consonants
Open vocal cords, airstream can pass through (/p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /h/)
Voiced consonants
closed vocal cords, airstream sets them vibrating (/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /j/, /w/)
Manner of articulation
way in which air stream is affected by the articulators
Obstruent
air stream is impeded or blocked by the articulators
Sonorants
Airstream is continuous, non-turbulent
Phonemes
smallest meaning distinguishing units -> realisation: phones
Minimal pairs
pair of words with different meaning differing in one sound (nap-map; feel-fall)
Morphology
study of "the formation and internal organisation of words"
syntactic attributes
smallest units that can occur in certain context (e.g. short answers like yes, no, what,...)
Orthographical attribute
orthographically uninterrupted unis separated on each side by spaces/punctuation
Phonological attribute
phonological units with typically at least one primary stress
Semantic-cognitive attribute
units associated with a unit of meaning, an integrated idea, a conceptual 'gestalt'
Derivation
affixes are used to create new words, derivational morphemes can change the meaning or the word class
suffixation (undercategory of derivation)
morpheme at the end (e.g. -ify, -able, -hood, -ity, -ise, -ish, -er, - ment, -less, ...)
Prefixation (undercategory of derivation)
morpheme in the beginning (e.g. un-, mis-, inter-, be-, dis-, ...)
Compounding
two or three morphemes are combined to form a new polymorphic word (e.g. highchair, swearword, underdog, bottle-green)
