What is a Language?

What is a language?

• A system of arbitrary conventionalized symbols

• A system of random sounds combined together

• A system of non-verbal gestures only

• A system of written symbols only

Arbitrary means there is no relationship between the sound and the meaning of the word. The meaning is randomly assigned by speakers of the language.

• True

• False

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of knowing a language?

• Knowing what sounds/ signs are in that language

• Knowing how to produce new sentences

• Knowing how to interpret sounds produced by others

• Knowing how to speak multiple languages

What does the ability to produce new sentences never spoken before demonstrate?

• Displacement

• Discreteness

• Creativity

• Conventionality

Which of the following sequences of sounds are examples of knowing certain sequences signify certain concepts?

• Toy, boy

• Glucose, glory, globe

• Glare, glint, gleam

• None of the above

What is an example of a sentence that conforms to the English grammar rules for forming sentences?

• She eats breakfast at the canteen.

• She breakfast eats at the canteen.

• At the canteen, she breakfast eats.

• None of the above

Which property of language refers to the ability to refer to different times and places?

• Discreteness

• Creativity

• Conventionality

• Displacement

What does discreteness in language refer to?

• Ability to refer to different times and places

• Ability to form new sentences

• Ability to break language into chunks

• Ability to understand sounds and symbols of the language

Is sign language considered a fully developed language?

• Yes, it has its own grammatical rules and mental lexicon.

• No, it is not considered a language.

• Yes, but it lacks grammatical rules.

• No, it is only a form of communication.

What things do spoken language and sign language have in common?

• Grammatical rules

• Mental lexicons

• Performance factors, e.g, nervousness

• All of the above