Scribd
Upload
428 views15 pages

Design Features of Language (1-4) With Quiz

The design features described are: 1. Transitoriness 2. Interchangeability 3. Vocal-auditory channel 4. Transitoriness 5. Broadcast transmission and directional reception

Uploaded by

Josielyne Gervacio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
428 views15 pages

Design Features of Language (1-4) With Quiz

The design features described are: 1. Transitoriness 2. Interchangeability 3. Vocal-auditory channel 4. Transitoriness 5. Broadcast transmission and directional reception

Uploaded by

Josielyne Gervacio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Design Features

of Language
Josielyne P. Gervacio
MAED-English

1
DESIGN FEATURES OF
LANGUAGE
 proposed and developed
by Charles Hockett in the
1950s and 1960s
(1958; 1959, 1960a,
[1960b] 1977; 1966;
Hockett and
Altmann 1968)

2
DESIGN FEATURES OF LANGUAGE
 emerged as the default means
of characterising animal
communication systems and
contrasting them with human
language

3
DESIGN FEATURES OF LANGUAGE
 Itbecame a reference point in
more general considerations
regarding the nature of human
language, and has since heavily
influenced linguistic courses
and textbooks.

4
DESIGN FEATURES OF LANGUAGE
The first 9 features could also match
primate communications, the last 4 were
solely reserved for human language. Later
on, Hockett added another 3 features that
he saw as unique to human language.

Thus, it can be said that human language


share a general set of features that help
set it apart from communication among
animals.
5
1. VOCAL-AUDITORY
CHANNEL
 This design feature refers to the idea that
speaking/hearing is the mode humans use
for language. When Hockett first defined
this feature, it did not take sign language
into account, which reflects the ideology of
orality that was prevalent during the time.
Hockett observes that “The signals
used in any language consist … of
patterns of sounds, produced by
motions of the respiratory and upper
alimentary tract”. The definition of the
channel feature is appended with an
observation that the ability to control
vocalisations in humans stems from
the cortical control of speech.
Addressing evolutionary concerns, he
offers a rather simplistic comment that the
primary advantage of the vocal-auditory
channel consists in leaving “much of the
body free for other activities that can be
carried out at the same time” or leaving
“hand and eye for other purposes”.
2. BROADCAST
TRANSMISSION AND
DIRECTIONAL RECEPTION

 It refers to the fact that a linguistic


signal can be received by any auditory
system within earshot, while its origin
can be traced back to a particular
location (by means of binaural direction
finding).
 Language signals (i.e. speech
sounds) are emitted as
waveforms, which are
projected in all directions
(‘broadcasted into auditory
space’), but are perceived by
receiving listeners as
emanating from a particular
direction and point of origin
(the vocalising speaker).
3. TRANSITORINESS

 This is also called rapid fading,


transitoriness refers to the idea of
temporary quality of language. Language
sounds exist for only a brief period of time,
after which they are no longer perceived.
Sound waves quickly disappear once a
speaker stops speaking. This is also true of
signs.
 In contrast, other forms of
communication such as writing and Inka
khipus (knot-tying) are more permanent.
 This temporal nature of language signals
requires humans to receive and interpret
speech sounds at their time of utterance,
since they are not subsequently
recoverable.
4.INTERCHANGEABILITY
 This refers to the idea that humans can give and
receive identical linguistic signals; humans are
not limited in the types of messages they can
say/hear.

 One can say "I am a boy" even if one is a girl. This


is not to be confused with lying (prevarication).
The importance is that a speaker can physically
create any and all messages regardless of their
truth or relation to the speaker. In other words,
anything that one can hear, one can also say.
 Notall species possess this feature.
For example, in order to communicate
their status, queen ants produce
chemical scents that no other ants
can produce.
Identify the design feature described in the
following statements.

1. Language sounds exist for only a brief period of time


2. Anything that one can hear, one can also say.
3. The signals used in any language consist of patterns
of sounds, produced by motions of the respiratory and
upper alimentary tract.
4. Speech sounds at their time of utterance are not
subsequently recoverable.
5. Linguistic signal can be received by any auditory
system within earshot, while its origin can be traced
back to a particular location

You might also like