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Worksheet 1 - Linguistics Eng B: The Origins of Language, Animals and Human Language, and Word Formation

Linguistics is the scientific study of language, including the four language skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Theories aim to account for these skills and explain the underlying language system. Some key theories on the origins of language include the divine source theory, the natural sound source theory, the social interaction source theory, the physical adaptation source theory, the tool-making source theory, and the genetic source theory. The innateness hypothesis proposes that humans are born with an innate capacity for language that other animals lack.

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286 views3 pages

Worksheet 1 - Linguistics Eng B: The Origins of Language, Animals and Human Language, and Word Formation

Linguistics is the scientific study of language, including the four language skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Theories aim to account for these skills and explain the underlying language system. Some key theories on the origins of language include the divine source theory, the natural sound source theory, the social interaction source theory, the physical adaptation source theory, the tool-making source theory, and the genetic source theory. The innateness hypothesis proposes that humans are born with an innate capacity for language that other animals lack.

Uploaded by

Abdulrahman Abdullah Saif
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Worksheet 1 – Linguistics Eng B1

The origins of language, animals and human language, and word formation

What is linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It is possible to study observable manifestations of


language, such as speaking and writing. It is also possible to study listening and reading, even though
those modes of language use are not as easily observed. In order to account for and explain all four
modes of language use (also referred to as the four language skills) - reading, writing, speaking, listening
– linguists develop theories as to the underlying system of language. This underlying system is another
object of study in linguistics. Theories of language can be indirectly corroborated by testing hypotheses
based on them. However, it should be pointed out that a hypothesis can never be completely
confirmed; it can only be falsified, as well as the theory on which it is based.

The origins of language

1) In Yule (2010), some theories on the origins of language are presented. Briefly explain each of
the following theories:
a. The divine source
b. The natural sound source
c. The social interaction source
d. The physical adaptation source
e. The tool-making source
f. The genetic source
2) The innateness hypothesis states that humans are born with a special capacity for language, a
capacity which other creatures lack. Provide some arguments that support the hypothesis! Can
you think of arguments against it? (Which ones?)

Animals and human language

3) In Yule (2010), some special properties of human language are introduced. Define and give
examples of these properties:
a. Communicative and informative signals
b. Displacement
c. Arbitrariness
d. Productivity

1
This worksheet is partly based on a compendium developed by Michael Wherrity (LinguisticsB, VT07).
e. Cultural transmission
f. Duality (or double articulation)
4) Experiments have shown that chimpanzees are able to communicate with humans by using
symbols/signs. Experiments have also shown that chimps are unable to communicate with
humans on a level equivalent to that of a human child of the same age. Discuss these
conclusions about “chimps and communication” in relation to the innateness hypothesis!

Word formation

5) Test yourself – make the right combinations!

Concept/Term Key Definition/Explanation


1 etymology A The invention of new words (e.g. xerox)
2 coinage B A new word formed from the initial letter of other
words (e.g. NASA from National Aeronautics and
Space Administration)
3 neologism C A word derived from the name of a person or place
(e.g. hoover)
4 borrowing D The process of combining the beginning of one word
and the end of another word to form a new word (e.g.
brunch from breakfast and lunch)
5 compounding E A.k.a. loan-translation; a type of borrowing in which
each element of a word is translated into the
borrowing language (e.g. superman from German
Übermench; flea market from French marché aux
puces)
6 eponym F The process of forming new words by adding affixes.
7 blending G The process of taking words from other languages
8 clipping H A process of forming a new word to be similar in
some way to an existing word (e.g. yuppie was made
possible as a new word by analogy with the earlier
word hippie).
9 calque (/kælk/) I A morpheme that is inserted in the middle of a word
(e.g. bloody in Hallebloodylujah!); normally not used
in English but found in some other languages.
10 hypocorism J A bound morpheme such as un- or –ed added to a
word (e.g. undressed)
11 backformation K The study of insects (!)
12 conversion L The process of reducing a word such as a noun to a
shorter version and using it as a new word such as a
verb (e.g. babysit from babysitter)
13 acronym M The process of reducing a word of more than one
syllable to a shorter form (e.g. ad from
advertisement).
14 derivation N A.k.a. category change or functional shirt; the process
of changing the function of a word, such as a noun to
a verb, as a way of forming new words (e.g.
microwave in “I am microwaving it for you right now”.
15 affix O The study of the origin and history of words
16 prefix P A bound morpheme added to the beginning of a word
(e.g. un- in unhappy)
17 infix Q A bound morpheme added to the end of a word (e.g.
–ness in sickness)
18 suffix R A new word
19 analogy S A word-formation process in which a longer word is
reduced to a shorter form with –y or –ie at the end
(e.g. telly from television).
20 entomology T The process of combining two (or more) words to
form a new word (e.g. backpack)

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