This document contains a general review of language theory and communication, as well as the linguistic sign.
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GENERAL REVIEW SOLUTION OBJECTIVE: To review the already studied contents, language Preview and Animal and Human Communication
HORIZONTAL It concerns itself with the evolution and change of language over time. It concerns itself to the study of language at a particular moment of time. It is a field that belongs to microlinguistics . It is a field that belongs to macrolinguistics . / splæ ꭍ/ is an example of an _____________ sign. It fulfils its function by pointing out its referent, typically by being partial or representative sample of it. They bear an arbitrary relationship to their referents. DOWN All signs act as _____________ when they trigger a specific action on the part of the receiver. It is the graphic representation of speech. For most people, it is the basic system of communication. For most people, it is an important supplement of speech. This feature refers to the fact that the communication system serves no other function but to communicate. This features refers to the fact that users of the system are able to refer to events remote in space and time. This feature refers to the ability to use the communication system to discuss the system itself.
It is the detailed study of the structure of language. It studies the broader influences of language.
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i ndexical sign iconic sign Symbolic sign PART II: DRAW THREE LINGUISTIC SIGNS: A SYMBOLIC ONE, AN ICONIC ONE, AND AN INDEXICAL ONE. LABEL THEIR PARTS. / d ɔg / signifier signifier signifier signified signified signified
s ymbolic sign iconic sign indexical sign signifier signified signified signifier signifier signified / d ɔg /
PART III: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AFTER DISCUSSING EACH OF THEM WITH YOU CLASSMATE. Which are the three systems of human communication? Explain each of them. Which are the types of writing? Explain and exemplify each of them. Why are linguists usually more interested in speech than writing? Why has writing often been viewed as a reflection of speech? Do animals use language to communicate? Explain.
Human communication can be broadly categorized into three systems: verbal, nonverbal, and written communication. Here's a breakdown of each : Verbal Communication (speech) : This involves the use of spoken words to convey messages. It includes face-to-face conversations, phone calls, video chats, speeches, and any other form of speaking. Verbal communication is important because it allows for immediate feedback and can convey tone, emotion, and emphasis . Nonverbal Communication (Gesture) : This encompasses all forms of communication that do not involve spoken or written words. It includes body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, and even the tone of voice. Nonverbal communication can reinforce what is being said verbally, contradict it, or convey messages on its own. It's often said that a large part of communication is nonverbal . Written Communication (Writing) : This involves any form of communication that is written down, including letters, emails, text messages, social media posts, reports, and books. Written communication is essential for documentation, providing a record of what was communicated. It allows for careful crafting of messages but lacks the immediate feedback present in verbal communication . Writing is the graphic representation of speech. Each of these systems plays a vital role in how we interact and understand each other. Effective communication often involves a combination of all three systems. Which are the three systems of human communication? Explain each of them.
2. Which are the types of writing? Explain and exemplify each of them. Which are the types of writing according to the characters used? Explain and exemplify each of them. Writing systems can be categorized based on the characters used . Here are the main types : Logographic Writing : Explanation : This system uses symbols to represent words or morphemes ( the smallest units of meaning ). Each symbol stands for a specific word or idea. Examples : Chinese Characters : Each character represents a word or a meaningful part of a word ( morpheme ). For instance , the character " 好 " means " good " or " well ." Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs : These symbols represent objects , ideas, sounds , and words . Syllabic Writing : Explanation : In this system , each symbol represents a syllable , a unit of sound that typically includes a vowel with or without surrounding consonants . Examples : Japanese Kana : The Japanese writing system uses two syllabaries —Hiragana and Katakana. Each character represents a syllable . For example , " あ " ( a) and " カ " ( ka ).
Alphabetic Writing : Explanation : This system uses symbols (letters) to represent individual sounds (phonemes) of a language. Letters are combined to form words . Examples : ► Latin Alphabet : Used in English and many other languages. For instance, "cat" is formed from the letters "c," "a," and " t,“ standing for the sounds /k/, /æ/, and /t/. ► Greek Alphabet : Used in Greek, with letters like "Α" (alpha) and "Β" (beta).
4. Abjad : Explanation : In this system, only consonants are represented by symbols, and the reader must supply the appropriate vowels based on context. Examples : ► Arabic Script : Used in Arabic, where consonants are written, and diacritical marks may be used to indicate vowels. ► Hebrew Script : Used in Hebrew, also primarily representing consonants. 5. Abugida : Explanation : This system combines features of syllabaries and alphabets. Each symbol represents a consonant with an inherent vowel. Additional marks modify the vowel sound. Examples : ► Devanagari : Used in Hindi and Sanskrit, where each character represents a consonant with an inherent vowel. For example, "क" ( ka ) can be modified to " कि " ( ki ). ► Ethiopic : Used in Amharic and other languages, where symbols represent consonant-vowel combinations . These writing systems reflect the diversity and richness of human languages and cultures. Each system has evolved to suit the linguistic needs and historical contexts of its users.
3. Why are linguists usually more interested in speech than writing? Linguists often prioritize the study of speech over writing for several reasons : Natural Form of Language : Speech is the primary mode of human communication and the most natural form of language. It predates writing by thousands of years and is acquired naturally by children without formal instruction. Understanding spoken language provides insights into how language evolves and functions in its most essential form . Dynamic Nature : Speech is dynamic and constantly evolving. It reflects real-time changes in language use, such as shifts in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Studying spoken language helps linguists observe and analyze these changes as they occur . Variety and Diversity : Spoken Language exhibits greater variety and diversity than written language. It includes dialects, accents, and informal speech patterns that are often not captured in writing. Linguists study speech to understand the full range of linguistic phenomena and cultural variations.
Immediate Communication : ► Speech allows for immediate feedback and interaction between speakers . It includes features like intonation , stress, and rhythm , which convey additional meaning and emotion . These aspects are often lost or altered in written communication . ·Spontaneity : ► Spoken Language is generally more spontaneous and less planned than written language . This spontaneity can reveal underlying cognitive processes , such as how people formulate thoughts and structure sentences in real-time. Universality : ► Speech is universal and accessible to all human societies , regardless of literacy levels . Studying spoken language provides a more comprehensive understanding of human communication across different cultures and communities .
4. Why has writing often been viewed as a reflection of speech? Writing has often been viewed as a reflection of speech for several reasons : Historical Development : ► Writing systems were developed as a way to record spoken language. Early writing was primarily used for administrative and legal purposes, capturing spoken transactions, laws, and agreements. This historical link reinforces the idea that writing is a graphic representation of speech . Representation of Sounds : ► Many writing systems, especially alphabetic ones, are designed to represent the sounds of spoken language. Each letter or character corresponds to a specific sound or set of sounds, making it natural to see writing as a way to transcribe speech . Communication Purpose : ► Both speech and writing serve the primary purpose of communication. They convey ideas, thoughts, and information. Because writing often captures spoken language, it is viewed as a way to preserve and transmit speech across time and space.
Learning Process : ► Children typically learn to speak before they learn to write. Writing is often taught by connecting it to spoken language, using phonics and sound-symbol correspondence. This educational approach reinforces the idea that writing is a reflection of speech . Cultural Perception : ► In many cultures, spoken language is seen as more immediate and personal, while writing is viewed as a more permanent and formal way to communicate. This perception positions writing as a formalized version of speech . Influence of Speech on Writing : ► The way people write is often influenced by how they speak. Informal writing, such as text messages and social media posts, tends to mirror spoken language closely, including the use of slang, contractions, and conversational tone . While writing and speech are closely related, it's important to recognize that they also have distinct features and functions. Writing allows for more careful crafting of messages, permanence, and the ability to reach a wider audience, while speech offers immediacy, interaction, and the conveyance of nonverbal cues. Both forms of communication enrich our ability to share and understand information.
5. Do animals use language to communicate? Explain. Animals do use various forms of communication to convey information to one another, but whether it qualifies as "language" in the same way humans use language is a subject of debate among scientists. Here’s a breakdown of animal communication and how it compares to human language : Forms of Animal Communication : ► Vocalizations : Many animals use sounds to communicate, such as birdsongs, dolphin clicks and whistles, and primate calls . ► Body Language : Animals often use body movements, postures, and facial expressions. For example, dogs wag their tails to show friendliness, while cats arch their backs as a sign of aggression . ► Chemical Signals : Some animals release pheromones to send messages. Ants, for example, leave pheromone trails to guide other ants to food sources . ► Visual Signals : Animals may use visual displays, like the colorful plumage of peacocks during courtship or the light patterns of fireflies.
Human Language vs. Animal Communication : ► Complexity and Syntax : Human language has a highly complex structure with rules (syntax) that allow for the creation of an infinite number of sentences. Animal communication, while often sophisticated, does not typically exhibit this level of complexity or syntax . ► Symbolic Representation : Humans use symbols (words) to represent objects, actions, and ideas, and these symbols can be combined in novel ways to convey new meanings. While some animals can understand symbols (e.g., trained apes using sign language), their use is generally limited and lacks the generative capacity of human language . ► Displacement : Human language allows us to talk about things that are not immediately present, such as past events or hypothetical situations. Most animal communication is context-dependent and focuses on the here and now.
3. Examples of Advanced Animal Communication : ► Chimpanzees and Gorillas : Some primates have been taught to use sign language or symbol-based systems to communicate with humans. For example, Koko the gorilla learned to use American Sign Language . ► Dolphins : Dolphins are known for their complex vocalizations and have been shown to use signature whistles to identify individuals . ► Honeybees : Honeybees perform a "waggle dance" to communicate the location of food sources to other bees in the hive . In summary, while many animals have sophisticated methods of communication, human language remains unique in its complexity, structure, and versatility. The study of animal communication continues to provide valuable insights into the evolution of language and cognition.
REFERENCES O´Grady , Williams. Contemporary Linguistics, An introduction. New York: st. martin´s Press. Crane, L. Ben. An Introduction to Linguistics. Little brown and Company, Boston, Toronto. 1981 Microsoft Copilot. (2025). "Response from AI chatbot " Source: Microsoft Copilot.