NAME : KIKY RIZKILLAH

NPM : 201912500792
CLASS : XG
ASSIGNMENT OF MEETING 1 AND 2 (THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE)

1. What is linguistic?
ANSWER:

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It involves the analysis of language

form, language meaning, and language in context. Linguists traditionally analyse
human language by observing an interplay between sound and meaning. Linguistics
also deals with the social, cultural, historical, and political factors that influence
language, through which linguistic and language-based context is often determined.
Research on language through the sub-branches of historical and evolutionary
linguistics also focuses on how languages change and grow, particularly over an
extended period of time. Related areas of study include the disciplines of semiotics
(the study of direct and indirect language through signs and symbols), literary
criticism (the historical and ideological analysis of literature, cinema, art, or published
material), translation (the conversion and documentation of meaning in
written/spoken text from one language or dialect onto another), and speech-language
pathology (a corrective method to cure phonetic disabilities and disfunctions at the
cognitive level).

2. What is Language ?

ANSWER :

A language is a structured system of communication. a language also the method of

human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a
structured and conventional way. Language, in a broader sense, is the method of
communication that involves the use of particularly human languages. It used as a
system of communication used by a particular country or community.

3. Mention the function of language and gives examples

ANSWER :
In oral language some common functions may include: •giving instructions •making
requests •defending an argument
In academic writing we use a range of specific functions in order to communicate
ideas clearly. These include: •describing processes •comparing or contrasting things
or ideas •classifying objects or ideas
•Expressing needs and likes
•Describing people, places, and things
•Describing spatial and temporal relations
•Describing actions
•Comprehending text or speech
•Retelling/relating past events
•Making claims•Making predictions
•Asking Informational Questions
•Asking Clarifying Questions
•Expressing and Supporting Opinions
•Comparing
•Contrasting
•Summarizing
•Persuading
•Defending
•Analyzing
•Describing Cause and Effect
•Drawing Conclusions
•Defining
•Explaining
•Generalizing
•Evaluating
•Interpreting
•Sequencing
•Hypothesizing and speculating
•Summarizing

4. Do animals have language ? explain briefly !

ANSWER :
Yes,Animals do have language. Animal languages are forms of non-human animal
communication that show similarities to human language. Animals communicate by
using a variety of signs such as sounds or movements. Such signing may be
considered complex enough to be called a form of language if the inventory of signs
is large, the signs are relatively arbitrary, and the animals seem to produce them with
a degree of volition (as opposed to relatively automatic conditioned behaviors or
unconditioned instincts, usually including facial expressions). In experimental tests,
animal communication may also be evidenced through the use of lexigrams (as used
by chimpanzees and bonobos). While the term "animal language" is widely used,
researchers agree that animal languages are not as complex or expressive as human
language. Many researchers argue that animal communication lacks a key aspect of
human language, that is, the creation of new patterns of signs under varied
circumstances. (In contrast, for example, humans routinely produce entirely new
combinations of words.) Some researchers, including the linguist Charles Hockett,
argue that human language and animal communication differ so much that the
underlying principles are unrelated. Accordingly, linguist Thomas A. Sebeok has
proposed to not use the term "language" for animal sign systems. Marc Hauser, Noam
Chomsky, and W. Tecumseh Fitch assert an evolutionary continuum exists between
the communication methods of animal and human language.

5. Please mention the components of language and give examples of each

ANSWER:
Phonology
The study of speech structure within a language, including both the patterns
of basic speech units and the accepted rules of pronunciation, is known as phonology.
The smallest units of sound that make up a language are called phonemes. For
example, the word “that” contains three phonemes the “th” represents one phoneme
/th/, the “a” maps to the short a sound /ă/, and the “t” to its basic sound /t/.

Morphology
Moving to the next level of language, we find the study of the smallest units of
meaning, morphemes. Morphemes include base words, such as “hat,” “dog,” or
“love,” as well as affixes, such as “un-,” “re-,” the plural “s” or “es,” and the past
tense “ed.” Knowledge of the morphology of our language is critical to vocabulary
development and reflects the smallest building blocks for comprehension.

Syntax
The study of how individual words and their most basic meaningful units are
combined to create sentences is known as syntax. As words are grouped together
when we communicate, we must follow the rules of grammar for our language, in
other words, its syntax. It is the knowledge of syntax that allows us to recognize that
the following two sentences, while containing different word order and levels of
complexity, have the same meaning.

 The boy hit the ball.

 The ball was hit by the boy.

Syntax also allows us to accept “I went to the store” as a meaningful (grammatical)

sentence while “To store went I” would not be acceptable English.

Semantics
Not only does the grammatical structure of our language provide the needed
clues for understanding, we also have a wealth of figurative language and rich
description that adds color and nuance to our communication. Semantics refers to the
ways in which a language conveys meaning. It is our understanding of semantics that
allows us to recognize that someone who is “green with envy” has not changed hue,
or that “having cold feet” has less to do with the appendage at the end of our legs and
more to do with our anxiety about a new experience. Because semantics moves
beyond the literal meaning of words and is culture-dependent, this is among the most
difficult aspects of language for individuals who are not native speakers and even
those who speak the same language but come from different cultures and convey
meaning using words in unique ways. Anyone who has attempted to converse with a
teenager in his own vernacular can appreciate the importance of sharing a semantic
base for communicating clearly.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics’ refers to the ways the members of the speech community achieve
their goals using language. The way we speak to our parents is not the same as the
way we interact with a sibling, for example. The language used in a formal speech
may bear little resemblance to what we would hear at a lunch with five friends. The
conversational style of day-to-day interactions is quite different from the language
used even when reading a storybook to a toddler. Knowing the difference and when to
use which style is the essence of pragmatics. Facility with language is critical to social
interactions. Our ability to effectively communicate with others through spoken and
written language is considered one of the ultimate goals of our educational system,
with reading receiving much-needed emphasis.

6. Human Language have various features,please describe and give examples!

ANSWER :

7. Please define and give examples of the following concepts :

A. Linguistic competence
B. Linguistic performance
C. Descriptive Grammar
D. Prescriptive Grammar