Introduction to linguistics

Tutor:
Oscar Javier Bohorquez

Actividad:

Introduction to main terms

Nombre: Yizeth Ballestas López

Código del estudiante: _47

Barranquilla 10-febrero-2020
1. When people wants to define Language, it is common that they easily confuse it
with other concepts such as grammar, written language or thought; in the video,
Professor Pinker talks about it, please, explain in your words, how or why Language
is not exactly those other things.
It is linguistics who is responsible for the study of language. The human being
acquires a language by nature, since everything related to the world is identified
with it, through language it is that we manage to communicate, transmit our
knowledge as well as we acquire it, through this we also reflect our feelings.

2. In a very concise form and according to the video, say what language is?
The language is like a wiki that has collected contributions from many people who
create new ways of expressing themselves.

3. According to the video, please explain what concept is developed with the famous
Noan Chomsky’s phrase “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously”.
What Noam Chomsky tried to make sense with this phrase is the difference between
syntax and semantics and that although a sentence is grammatically good, it is not
understandable.

4. What is the basic explanation for the fact that a person speaks a foreign language
with a specific accent?
The accent is what identifies us when talking with people from other cities or
countries, we adopt it since we hear the first words and we develop it when we start
talking. For example I am Colombian and I live in Spain, I still speak Spanish but
with a Colombian accent.

5. Despite computational linguistics have had great advances, what have been some
typical linguistic difficulties to computers process human language?
Semantics, phonetics, pracmatics, phonology, syntax and phonetics are the main
difficulties that computers present.
Create three more questions and give their respective answers also based on the video.

 What is language according to Steven Pinker?

Language is one of the main topics within the humanistic sciences.

 Why does Steven say that language is the center of human life?

Because through this man can conquer great things, exchanging information and

knowledge through linguistic means.

 What is one of the prescriptive norms?

One of these is that double denial should not be used.

 Bibliographic References

 [Big Think]. (2012, October 6). Steven Pinker: Linguistics as a Window to

Understanding the Brain [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Q-
B_ONJIEcE