Introduction to Language Philip Miller Liliane Haegeman

Introduction to Language Philip Miller & Liliane Haegeman

Organization of the course • L 1, S 2, UE 1 • Lectures: Wed from 2 to 3 pm (12 hours) Philip Miller & Liliane Haegeman • Based on : Fromkin, V. , R. Rodman, N. Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language. Boston: Heinle, 7 th edition. • Contents of 5 th and 6 th edition are similar. • Available at the Bibliothèque Angellier.

Organization of the course • Sections: 1, 5 hours per week (19, 5 hours) – Various instructors – Exercises from the exercise booklet – Exercises from Fromkin and Rodman • The exercises done in sections will be directly related to the topics presented in the lectures.

Organization of the course • Evaluation: done in sections (contrôle continu) on material from the lectures and the sections. • Grammar sections are also part of UE 1. • Less directly connected with the course.

Tips on how to organize your work • If you have trouble understanding the lectures, you can prepare yourself by reading the material in the textbook in advance. • Review the material covered in the lectures using the textbook. • Work on the recommended exercises and do not hesitate to ask questions in sections.

More information • The powerpoint presentation will be available on the web next week. • Correspondence between sections of the various editions of the book will be posted on the web and bulletin board at Angellier. • Questions on the lectures can be sent to philip. miller@univ-lille 3. fr

Parts of textbook for this class • 7 th edition. pp. 3 -8 • 6 th edition. pp. 3 -8 • 5 th edition. pp. 3 -8

What is Language? • Importance of language in human life • Language distinguishes humans from other animals • What does it mean to know a language?

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding – Sign languages of the deaf

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding – Sign languages of the deaf • (Almost) everyone knows a language

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding – Sign languages of the deaf • (Almost) everyone knows a language • Complexity of linguistic knowledge

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding – Sign languages of the deaf • (Almost) everyone knows a language • Complexity of linguistic knowledge • Speakers are not aware of their linguistic knowledge

Linguistic Knowledge • Speaking and understanding – Sign languages of the deaf • (Almost) everyone knows a language • Complexity of linguistic knowledge • Speakers are not aware of their linguistic knowledge My goddaughter who was born in Sweden and who now lives in Iowa is named Disa, after a Viking queen.

Knowledge of the Sound System • Knowledge of which sounds are in a language – French person pronouncing this as /z. Is/ – English person pronouncing both rue /ry/ and roue /ru/ as /ru: / • Knowledge of where different sounds can appear – Nkrumah (former president of Ghana)

Knowledge of the Sound System • pat /phæt/ vs. */pæt/ • spat /spæt/ vs. */sphæt/ • premier /prəmje/ • première /prəmjεr/ • céder /sede/ • cède /sεd/

Knowledge of Words • Form (sequence of sounds) and meaning

Knowledge of Words • Form (sequence of sounds) and meaning • House – Maison – Dom – Casa

Knowledge of Words • Form (sequence of sounds) and meaning • House – Maison – Dom – Casa • Signifiant Signifié

Knowledge of Words • Form (sequence of sounds) and meaning • House – Maison – Dom – Casa • Signifiant Signifié • Arbitrariness of the linguistic sign (Ferdinand de Saussure)

Iconic signs • Form “resembles” meaning • Iconic relation between meaning and form

Iconic signs in language

Iconic signs in language • Onomatopoeia – French – English – Spanish meuh [mø] moo [mu: ] mu [mu]

Onomatopoiea • Rooster – French – English – Spanish Cocorico Cock-a-doodle-doo Kikirikí

Onomatopoiea • http: //www. georgetown. edu/faculty/ballc/a nimals/

American Sign Language • Signing is not miming • Conventionalization of signs • Linguistics materialsSign lgge videosHair M 0829[1]. mov • Linguistics materialsSign lgge videosFather ASL M 0667[1]. mov

French Sign Language • http: //www. websourd. org/

Arbitrariness of the linguistic sign What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. (Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet) • Conventional nature of the linguistic sign