INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS

STUDENT:
MARÌA DEL PILAR PAZ

THE NATURE OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGE

GRUPO: 518017_5

TUTOR:
HENRY LENIS

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA (UNAD)

ESCUELA DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN (ECEDU)
2019
POPAYÁN
2. 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, “Attribute each of the…phrases to
Ferdinand de Saussure, Noam Chomsky, or Michael Holliday.
What motivates, in each case, your response according to the
text? What does the quote tell you about their perspective on
the study and analysis of language?”
1- Ferdinand de Saussure affirms ‘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.’
Because according to the theory of Ferdinand de Saussure the
connection between all ‘signifiers’ which are ‘sound images’ or
‘linguistic signs’ and what they are signifying – their signified
object or concept is arbitrary
2- Noam Chomsky affirms ‘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.’
Because according to the theory of Noam Chomsky we was born
with an innate capacity for speech. This skill we develop
through our experiences and learning share them with our
family or cultural context.
3-‘Michael Holliday affirms 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.
Because according to the theory of Michael Holliday was driven
by the need to solve particular problems in teaching the
language, according to the needs of the learners.
4- Ferdinand de Saussure affirms ‘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.’
Because according to the theory of Ferdinand de Saussure
Langue belongs to all of us, it is a collective social product and
the practice of speech in speakers who belong to the same
community. They intent to express, exist in their minds to
others.
5-Ferdinand de Saussure affirms ‘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.’
Because according to the theory of Ferdinand de Saussure the
most important skills of the human species is the ability to
speak and construct signs with their own meaning.
6- Michael Holliday affirms ‘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.’
Because according to the theory of Michael Holliday Language
depends on the social context .This process depends of the
child's development

3. Based on the second text ‘Linguistics’ in “Bauer, Laurie; The

Linguistic Student's Handbook” Answer the following question:
Why Linguistics is definitely considered a science? In your
answer, involve the other language areas such as semiotics,
philology and literature.
According to the second text the linguistics there are good reasons for
calling linguistics a science
It a science because it has searched different explications for the of
phenomenon language of a real-world and building theories which has
helped to explain why observed.
Other reason is the linguistics observe and classify naturally
phenomenon like speech sounds, words, languages and ways of using
language to interact with the others.
The science searched a true knowledge.
The linguistic studies symbols of language and its phenomenon.
Language means articulate sounds. The articulation brings life to the
language
We live in a world full of signs and we have the ability for to give them
a signification this is called semiotic the science deals of all
communication systems in a human society. We can express our
feelings, thoughts and everything we want. This is called literature the
art of writing and beautify the language.
4. In the following two questions you have to consult and
then explain:
4.1 The concept of ‘double articulation’ is a classic one at
identifying language, please, explain it, and give examples.
Double articulation is a linguistic term. Double articulation has levels,
where the language is divided.
This is the first level of articulation
Morphemes: meaningful units of sound which combine with other to
form words or morphemes.
For example, Dog, child. But there are others are only part. For
example
“Unbelievable” it is made of three morphemes: “un-,” “-believ-,”
and “-able,” each with a specific meaning. Morphemes like these
make words and sentences for to communicate the people.
Other example, the word "cat" is composed of the sounds [k], [æ],
and [t], which don`t have meaning as separate individual sounds (and
which can also be combined to form the separate words "tack" and
"act", with distinct meanings). These sounds are called phonemes
This is the second level of the articulation
Phonemes or letters are simply sounds without meaning. The
phonemes can’t communicate anything by themselves. But together
they make the Morphemes or words
4.2 Human language is different from other semiotic systems,
explain at least three characteristics that according to Linguistics, are
unique to human language.
1. Arbitrariness The symbols that we use are arbitrary because there
is a no logical relationship between the signal and the message.
Because each person name each thing according his way to look the
word or culture where live her/his
For example the word ‘cake’ the same word be called ‘Dulce’ in Panama
or ‘pastel’ in Colombia. The symbols which we use are arbitrary.
2. The need for learning the human language is not totally
conditioned by the environment. Humans are born with an inmate
language. But we need permanently to be in contact with the language
for acquire it.If a child grows isolated he/she does not acquire
language.
3. Creativity this characteristic is very important in the human
language. We can talk about anything or everything we want. We can
understand and produce statements, which we have never heard or
produced before.
Task 2: Collaborative activity
6. Create an online collective magazine and answer the
questions on it.
Use the tool flipsnack to make your group’s online magazine. This
website let you create online magazines by using pdf documents.
Visit the website at https://www.flipsnack.com/es/digital-magazine/