I.S.F.D.C. y T. ´´F.AC.

´´ PROFESORADO DE INGLÉS 4th YEAR

LINGUISTICS
STUDENT: Alejandra Azul Negrini DATE: 14-04-2023

ASSIGNMENT #1: What is Language?

 Read pages 1-27 (Chapter 1) from Fromkin, V. Rodman, R. and Hyams, N.
(2014) An Introduction to Language. 10th Edition. Wardsworth, Cengage
Learning. Then, answer the questions below.
KEEP IN MIND:
-Please make sure NOT to just “copy and paste” from the reading material or from other
sources. Plagiarism is a serious thing.
- The questions are open-ended and require you to think critically and to write paragraph-
length answers that are well structured, coherent, and cohesive. In order to get a
PASSING MARK your answers must be well-structured, coherent and cohesive, answer
ALL the parts of the question, and be comprehensible and grammatically correct. *
*NOTE: If there are enough grammar mistakes that make it difficult to understand the
answer, you will NOT GET A PASSING MARK. Please make sure to edit/check before
handing in your work.
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1. How do we know that our knowledge of language is not just a list of

utterances that is stored in our memory? In your answer, you must mention
creativity, storage capacity, and linguistic knowledge.

- Our knowledge of language is not just a list of utterances that are stored in our
memory, it goes beyond of mere memorization. This is because human language
has some characteristics that make it more complex. One of them is the
creativity of human language. Creativity refers to the fact that we can generate
an infinite number of novel sentences to convey new ideas or express ourselves
uniquely. This creativity extends beyond mere repetition or retrieval of stored
utterances. We can combine words in novel ways, create new words, and adapt
language to suit different contexts and audiences. This creative aspect suggests
that our linguistic knowledge goes beyond rote memorization.

All humans know at least one language that they use to communicate and
understand what other people say. As we grow, we acquire our mother tongue, not by
being taught by other people, but by being exposed to it, that is, by hearing it, repeating
it, and experimenting with it. And throughout life, humans can learn multiple languages
as well.
With the language/s we domain, we can create new words, phrases, and even
sentences. This creativeness also allows us to identify grammatical and ungrammatical
structures within the language. We may not know the specific rule behind every
grammar mistake, but it will sound weird or strange to us to read or hear incorrect
utterances.
Moreover, we can store a definite amount of rules, words, and general
knowledge about our language in our brains. This capacity enables us to form sentences
correctly to be comprehensive and cohesive. Adding to this, our biological features as
humans are the ones that provide us with storage capacity that let us organize all this
information in our brains and use it unconsciously to communicate.
Linguistic knowledge refers to the human ability to communicate through a
specific language system, by producing a string of sounds or by signs and body
expressions. However, knowing a language also means knowing its grammar and
components. Each language is a unique system that has its specific organization and
rules.
2. Explain the difference between DESCRIPTIVE and PRESCRIPTIVE grammar.
Provide examples and the reasons (political, social, pedagogical, others) behind
their use.
Descriptive grammar is the study of a language, its structure, and its rules used
in daily life, including standard and nonstandard varieties. In other words, it describes
the application of the language in different contexts without focusing on how people
should speak or use the language correctly. For example, we do not use similar words,
expressions, or formality to talk to a neighbour or a president.
Prescriptive grammar specifies the correct way to use the rules and grammar of a
language. As its name suggests, its most important function is to find and prescribe the
laws of a language. That is why the standard dialect may be considered the better choice
to communicate in a correct, grammatical, and formal way. Although this does not mean
other dialects or languages are weaker or incomplete.

3. Explain Chomsky’s Universal Grammar theory in your own words. Please

include evidence from Sign Languages in your answer.
The Universal Grammar Theory (UG) refers to common knowledge in all
languages. Even though there are evident differences between each language and ways
to communicate with people, our condition as humans and our capacity to acquire and
learn languages endow us with specific features. For example, the language of deaf
people is varied and different in the same way spoken languages have different dialects.
The fact that sign languages and spoken languages are not the same does not mean that
one or another is superior.

4. What do the barking of dogs, the meowing of cats and the singing of birds have
in common with human language? What are some of the basic differences between
human language and animal communication?
Species of animals have specific systems of communication, mainly centred on
gestures or vocal sounds. In this case, the barking of dogs, the meowing of cats, and the
singing of birds are responses to particular situations and convey specific meanings. For
example, a dog will bark when it hears a strange or uncommon noise; a cat will always
meow when hungry or thirsty; and a bird will always sing when the sun rises. Although
this is a way in which animals communicate with humans and with their species, their
language lacks structure and meaningful units, such as words, phrases, or sentences.
One aspect of animal language that is very similar to human language is that
animals learn to produce the characteristic sound of their species when they are born
and through a specific section of time, as children do within the first years of life. They
use repetition and go through a similar babbling stage until they have acquired the
complete language.
5. Explain the difference between linguistic determinism and linguistic relativism.
Then, give your opinion about whether or not you believe that language shapes the
way we think; support your answer by giving examples from your own experience.
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has two theories:
- Linguistic Determinism states that language affects how we think and feel about
everything around us. So people who speak different languages will have
different visions of the world.
- Linguistic Relativism exposes that every language opens up a variety of
categories that make people think differently about the world.
From my point of view, some languages are more structured than others which
may influence people’s perceptions and limit their freedom of expressing themselves
and visioning the outside world. In languages based on power, that is, by making
distinctions between social classes, political benefits, or even differentiating reduced
groups, people might feel inferior and lack freedom of speech.
However, some languages are more developed than others, and the people who
speak them have more words and expressions to communicate. Whereas in languages
that are still developing or have basic structures, people will be less likely to express
themselves and will certainly have a reduced frame of thought.

6. Briefly explain the difference between competence and performance. Use the
cartoon below to support your answer. (NOTE: vignettes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 show
Tarzan’s thoughts; he only speaks in vignette number 5).
 The difference between these two concepts is that Linguistic Competence refers
to the theoretical knowledge we may have about a language. It includes the grammar
rules, varieties of words and their meanings, set phrases, punctuation marks, uses, etc.
Linguistic Performance refers to all the theories applied into practice, that is, how we
use grammar rules in speaking and writing and if we are clear enough about the
message we are giving.
The vignettes show how Tarzan is mentally practicing the different ways to
introduce himself to Jane, but when he faces her, he cannot put into spoken words all
the set dialogues he had been thinking of. There is a big difference between knowing a
lot of theory and being able to apply it in real life. The balance of these two aspects
makes a language speaker fluent and confident.