[Anthropology 2247A/B] - Midterm Exam Guide - Ultimate 12 pages long Study Guide!

• School: Western University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: Anthropology 2247A/B
• Professor: Olga Kharytonava

Document Summary

We take a hypothesis, test it and then change directions. We use generative linguistics universality of languages. The basis of this theory is the idea that languages are universal. All human beings are born with an ability to learn a human language: = linguistic capacity (chomsky 1957 and later work) Linguistic knowledge: knowledge that speakers are unaware of. Speaking is parallel to walking (no understanding of the principles of balance etc. that allow us to walk is necessary) Goal: represent in a formal way the tacit knowledge that native speakers have of their language. What are the things we (as native speakers) know about our languages: the meaning of words semantics, the order of words syntax, the formation of words morphology, the sounds of words phonology. Combine words in a sentence: grammaticality vs. ungrammaticality: the dog chased the cat, the cat chased the dog, *the dog the cat chased, *the cat the dog chased.