LINGUIST 1A03 Lecture 1: Week 1 Video Notes
14 Nov 2017
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The way we ask questions about language uses a scientific approach. Empirical - observe data to find evidence for our theories. Observe what people say and why they see it and make theories. Differences between humans and other species when it comes to language and speech. They are unique in comparison to other species. No other species has the same brain as humans. Cognitive science is interested in what goes on in the mind. Mental grammar = the shared system that lets speakers of a language understand each other. Semantics: how meaning of words and sentences are organized in the mind. When we say that human language is creative we mean that, any language can express and causable concept. All of the worlds languages can express all concepts. Every language can generate an infinite number of possible new words and sentences. Every language can use the infinite words and combination of words to make up an infinite number of sentences.
