ATH 175 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Human Communication, Distinctive Feature, Sign Language
29 Aug 2016
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Communication: human v non human: gorillas and chimps use various calls as well as nonverbal forms: facial expressions, body movements, and gestures. These are genetically based, rigidly inflexible: call systems= a limited number of sounds that are produced in response to specific stimuli (eg food or danger) Calls cannot be combined to produce new calls. Calls are reflexive in that they are automatic response to stimuli: non human forms of communication are classified as close systems. Human communication differs from that of an animal in 2 other ways. Human communication is transmitted through tradition or culture: structure of language. Every language has a logical structure and rules governing sounds: phonological structure. There is also a grammatical structure for combining sounds: phonology. Phoneme the smallest sound contrast that serves to distinguish meaning. Phonemes do not convey meaning in and of themselves. Morpheme is a minimal linguistic form (usually a word) with meaning.
