Linguistics

Linguistics

1. Definition of Terminologies

Dialect: A variety or form of language based on region, social background, or occupation. An example of an idiom is wheat, as referred to in England and Oats in the case of Scotland.

Language: A structured system of communication employed by particular groups or communities and consists of written symbols or a set of sounds. An example of a language is the Zulu language.

Pidgin: A form of communication that arises between persons with different languages and involves simplified grammar and speech. English pidgin is pervasive in West African countries such as Nigeria.

Creole: A language that arises when two simplified languages are merged over a considerable time. A creole language typically evolves from a pidgin.

Neurolinguistics: The study of the neural mechanisms of language production, storage, comprehension, and acquisition.

Phonology: The branch of linguistics concerned with the study of sound patterns and the meaning of sound patterns within and between spoken languages.

Morphology: The branch of linguistics concerned with the study of the structure of words, word formation, and their association with other words in the same language.

Syntax: The set of rules or principles that determine sentence structure in regards to governing the use of words, punctuations, clauses, and phrases.

Semantics: The branch of linguistics concerned with the meaning of words.

Language acquisition: The process through which perception, comprehension, production, and usage of language is achieved.

L1: The abbreviation of a speaker’s first language

L2: The abbreviation of a speaker’s second language

LAD: The abbreviation for Language Acquisition Device and refers to the natural ability of human beings to acquire language. LAD, as a theoretical component, was hypothesized by Noam Chomsky.

Sequential Bilingualism: The term denotes a linguistic occurrence in which an individual acquires more than two languages at different periods.

Simultaneous Bilingualism: Denotes a linguistic circumstance in which an individual acquires more than one language at the same time.

Societal Bilingualism: The term denotes the existence of bilingualism or multilingualism at the societal level to any degree.

Borrowing: The term denotes the process through which a word from one language is adopted to be used in another language. The word cafe is a lexically borrowed word from French café.

Code-Switching: The process of alternation between different languages or dialects within the same conversation.

Universal Grammar: A theory credited to Noam Chomsky, which portends that the ability to learn a language is naturally or inherently ingrained in the human brain irrespective of language.

Babbling: The stage of language development or acquisition during childhood characterized by the utterance of a non-sensical arrangement of sounds.

Holophrastic Speech: Holophrastic speech is the linguistic situation in language development where a single word or words is employed to convey a thought. For instance, car, ball, burst may be employed in a holophrastic manner to mean a car ran over a ball and it burst.

Telegraphic Speech: the term refers to the level of language acquisition in children characterized concise speech in which only the central words are used and grammar structure is not emphasized.