LINGUIST 1A03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1.1 - 1.3: Vocal Folds, Sign Language

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Linguistics
• Course: LINGUIST 1A03
• Professor: Catherine Anderson

Document Summary

All normal human beings have at least one language. Linguistics study of how language works: how its used, how its acquired, how it changes over time, how its represented in the brain. Early humans were like us anatomically: similar brain size and vocal tracts capable of producing speech, archaeological evidence also suggests they had the type of intellect to accompany language. Our speech organs are primarily concerned with breathing and eating: they also become useful in language. The bundle of nerves controlling the vocal cords are the densest in the entire body. Vocal cords create seal over passage to lungs. Move food to teeth and back into throat articulate vowels and consonants. Humans are specially equipped for perception of speech. Newborns respond differently to human voices than other sounds: 6-month olds are able to perceive subtle differences among sounds in languages the(cid:455) ha(cid:448)e(cid:374)"t e(cid:448)e(cid:374) heard (cid:271)efore.