Introduction to Language and Linguistics 001: What do you know when you know a language?

1 Introduction
2 Phonetics and Phonology
3 Morphology and Syntax
4 Semantics and Pragmatics
5 Conclusion
ELC 231: Introduction to Language and Linguistics
What do you know when you know a language?
Dr. Meagan Louie
M. Louie ELC 231: Introduction to Language and Linguistics 1 / 50

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Q: What is Language?
.Q: What counts as a LANGUAGE?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
1 English, Thai, Blackfoot?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
4 Greek alphabet, Pinyin,
Hiragana?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
5 Hànzin/Kanji, Hieroglyphs?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
6 l33t, Textspeak,
Emoticons/Emoji?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
6 l33t, Textspeak,
Emoticons/Emoji?
7 Traﬃc signs, Traﬃc light
symbols?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
6 l33t, Textspeak,
Emoticons/Emoji?
symbols?
8 Drawing, Painting, Photography?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
6 l33t, Textspeak,
Emoticons/Emoji?
symbols?
9 Instrumental music?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Question to Ponder: Hockett’s Design Features of Language
.Q: What properties does LANGUAGE have?
mmmi.e., what counts as a LANGUAGE (vs communication system)?
Charles F. Hockett (1916-2000)
proposed several criteria that a
communication system must have in
order to count as a language
What properties do you think a
language needs?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
.Q: Do these count as languages
mmmaccording to your criteria?
2 ASL, LSQ, TSL?
3 Java, Perl, C++?
Hiragana?
6 l33t, Textspeak,
Emoticons/Emoji?
symbols?
9 Instrumental music?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Question to Ponder: Hockett’s Design Features of Language
.Q: What properties does LANGUAGE have?
mmmi.e., what counts as a LANGUAGE (vs communication system)?
Hockett’s Design Features
1 Discreteness
2 Semanticity
3 Arbitrariness
4 Productivity
5 Prevarication
6 Duality of Patterning
7 Displacement
8 ...

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Q: What is Linguistics?
Linguistics is the systematic study of language

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Taking a SCIENTIFIC APPROACH to studying language:

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
1 Observe some language phenomena, and ask a question
2 Make a hypothesis about the phenomena

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
3 Test the predictions that your hypothesis makes

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
4 Revise your hypothesis
5 Test your revised hypothesis

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
6 Repeat steps 4 and 5

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
6 Repeat steps 4 and 5
Q: So what is language?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
The Core Subdomains of Linguistics
Language is a complex thing that consists of many diﬀerent parts

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Linguistics likewise, can be broken down into diﬀerent parts

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Linguistics likewise, can be broken down into diﬀerent parts
Phonetics
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Pragmatics

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Q: What is a Language?
.Q: What is a Language?
Hypothesis 1: A language is a collection of sounds
English = { p, t, k, tS, s, S, T, f, b, d, g, z, D, v, i, u, ej, ,... }
French = { p, t, k, S, s, f, b, d, g, z, Z, i, y, e, ...}
Thai = { p, ph
, b, t, th
, d, k, kh
, i, W, @, e, ...}
Blackfoot = {p, t, k, i, o, a.. }

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Core Subdomains: Phonetics
Phonetics is the study of speech sounds
(i) How do you make these sounds?
(ii) What properties do these sounds have?
(iii) etc.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
English = {p, b, t, d, k, g, s, z, f, v, tS, S, dZ, T, D, i, u, ej, ,... }
French = {p, b, t, d, k, g, s, z, f, v, S, Z, i, y, e, œ...}
Thai = {p, ph
, b, t, th
, d, k, kh
, c, ch
, s, i, u, W, @, e, ...}

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
English = {p, b, t, d, k, g, s, z, f, v, tS, S, dZ, T, D, i, u, ej, ,... }
French = {p, b, t, d, k, g, s, z, f, v, S, Z, i, y, e, œ...}
Thai = {p, ph
, b, t, th
, d, k, kh
, c, ch
, s, i, u, W, @, e, ...}
Prediction 1: If I learn the sounds of a language,
mmmmmmmmmI’ll know the language!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
.H1: A language is a collection of sounds
(Dumb) Prediction: If you learn the sounds of a language,
mmmyou’ll know the language!
Blackfoot: mmm{i, a, o, p, t, k, P, m, n, s, w, j, ts
, ks
}

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
, ks
}
...so can you speak Blackfoot now?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
, ks
}
...so can you speak Blackfoot now?
...Can you even pretend like you’re speaking Blackfoot?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
A language can’t just be an unstructured set of sounds
(1) a. [ph
it] English
b. [ph
luk] English-ish
c. *[pti] *[pTDSk] Not English

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
(1) a. [ph
it] English
b. [ph
luk] English-ish
Observation: Sounds restricted in how they combine into syllables

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
(1) a. [ph
it] English
b. [ph
luk] English-ish
Sounds should be categorized, eg. into consonants and vowels

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
(1) a. [ph
it] English
b. [ph
luk] English-ish
Sounds should be categorized, eg. into consonants and vowels
This should be represented in our model of language
English = { {p, t, k, tS, S, D, T,...}, {i,u, ej, ...} }

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Phonology
Phonology is the study of how speech sounds pattern
(i) What sounds are there?
(ii) What sorts of categories do speech sounds fall into?
(iii) How can these sounds combine?
(iv) etc.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Phonology
(iv) etc.
Hypothesis 1b: A language is a structured collection of sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Phonology
(iv) etc.
Hypothesis 1b: A language is a structured collection of sounds
Prediction 1b: If I learn the sounds of the language, and rules
about how they can combine, I can speak the language!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Hypothesis 1b: A language is a structured collection of
sounds
.H1b: A language is a structured collection of sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Hypothesis 1b: A language is a structured collection of
sounds
.H1b: A language is a structured collection of sounds
But then what about this guy?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
Observation: Language is about more than sounds
Consider the following sequence:
STAGE 1: I think of something
(Thought 1)

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
(Thought 1)
STAGE 2: You know the content
of Thought 1

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 1b
(Thought 1)
of Thought 1
Question: How do we get from
Stage One to Stage 2?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 1b:
mmmA language is a structured collection of sounds ×

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 1b:
There’s more to language than just sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 1b:
There’s more to language than just sounds
The sounds of a language combine to form words.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 2: A language is a collection of words

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
English = {dog, cat, apple, the, a/some, run, eat, red, fat, be, on ...}

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
French = {chien, chat, pomme, le/la/les, un/une/des,
courir/cours/court/courons/courez/courent/couru/
courais/courait..., manger, rouge, gros, être/..., sur, ...}

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Thai = {หมา, แมว, แอปเปิ้ล, วิ่ง, กิน, แดง, อ้วน, เป็น/อยู่, ... }

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Blackfoot = {imitaa, poos, aapastaaminaam,
amo/omi/oma/omistsi/omiksi, okska’si, ooyi/owatoo/oowat,
maohksinattsi, omaahk-a’pii, it-ohkit-, ...}

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Blackfoot = {imitaa, poos, aapastaaminaam,
amo/omi/oma/omistsi/omiksi, okska’si, ooyi/owatoo/oowat,
maohksinattsi, omaahk-a’pii, it-ohkit-, ...}
But a language can’t just be an unstructured set of words:

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
What’s a Language?
(2) a. *nit-opii
I-sit
it-ohkit-
RR-on-
omi
that
ponokaomitaa
horse
Target: I rode/sat on that horse
b. nit-it-ohkit-opii
I-RR-on-sit
omi
that
ponokaomitaa
horse
“I rode/sat on that horse.”

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
(2) a. *nit-opii
I-sit
it-ohkit-
RR-on-
omi
that
ponokaomitaa
horse
Target: I rode/sat on that horse
b. nit-it-ohkit-opii
I-RR-on-sit
omi
that
ponokaomitaa
horse
“I rode/sat on that horse.”
If Blackfoot is a set of words, why can’t I say something like (2b)?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
(3) a. *Le
the
chien
dog
a
have.3sg
mangé
eat.PTC
la
the.f
rouge
red
pomme
apple
Target: The dog ate the red apple.
b. Le chien a mangé la pomme rouge

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
(3) a. *Le
the
chien
dog
a
have.3sg
mangé
eat.PTC
la
the.f
rouge
red
pomme
apple
Target: The dog ate the red apple.
b. Le chien a mangé la pomme rouge
If French is just a set of words, why can’t I say something like (3a)?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Observation: Only some English words can appear in the position
marked in red (i.e., in the frame ’The ..... dog’)
(4) a. The red dog ran
b. The fat dog ran
c. *The apple dog ran
d. *The eat dog ran
e. *The a dog ran
f. *The with dog ran

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Observation: Only some English words can appear in the position
marked in red (i.e., in the frame ’The ..... dog’)
b. The fat dog ran
d. *The eat dog ran
e. *The a dog ran
f. *The with dog ran
If English was just a set of words, we wouldn’t be able to account
for why only some words can occur in this position

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
b. The fat dog ran
d. *The eat dog ran
e. *The a dog ran
b. A red dog ran
c. *Eat red dog ran
d. *Cat red dog ran
e. *on red dog ran
b. The red dog ate
c. *The red dog cat
d. *The red dog a
e. *The red dog on
b. The red cat ran
c. *The red eat ran
d. *The red a ran
e. *The red on ran

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Observation: Diﬀerent words have diﬀerent distributions

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
We can account for this if language puts words into diﬀerent
categories
Nouns Verbs Adjectives Determiners Prepositions
cat, dog,... eat, run,... red, fat,... the, a,... under, on,...

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
We can account for this if language puts words into diﬀerent
categories
Nouns Verbs Adjectives Determiners Prepositions
Question: Is there any independent evidence for these categories?

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 2b: Language is a collection of words that fall into
speciﬁc word-categories, eg., N, V, Adj, Det, P

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Hypothesis 2b: Language is a collection of words that fall into
speciﬁc word-categories, eg., N, V, Adj, Det, P
Independent Evidence: Only nouns can be pluralized
N V Adj Det P
cat-s, dog-s *eat-s, *run-s *red-s, *fat-s *the-s, *a-s *under-s,

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Independent Evidence: Only verbs can be past tense
N V Adj Det
cat, dog,... smile, walk,... red, fat,... the, a,...
*cat-ed, *dog-ed smile-d, walk-ed *red-ed, *fat-ed *the-ed, *a-ed
Independent Evidence: Only adjectives can be superlative
N V Adj Det
cat, dog,... smile, walk,... red, fat,... the, a,...
*cat-est, *dog-est smile-st, walk-est reddest, fattest *the-est, *a-est

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Syntax and Morphology
Observation: The "collection of words" that make up (part of) a
language is structured in terms of

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
(i) The external distribution of words
(eg., where words of a certain category can occur within a phrase or
sentence)

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
(i) The external distribution of words
(eg., where words of a certain category can occur within a phrase or
sentence)
(ii) The internal structure of words
(eg., what things ("morphemes") can be be combined to form words)

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 2
Hypothesis 2b
Syntax is the study of how words combine to form sentences
(i) "word order"
(ii) How to form phrases and sentences
(iii) How to categorize types of phrases, types of sentences
(iv) etc.
Morphology is the study of words
(i) How to categorize words
(ii) How to form words
(iii) etc.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Hypothesis 3: Language consists of:

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(i) A structured collection of sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Instructions about how to make them PHONETICS
Rules re: how these sounds combine . PHONOLOGY

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(ii) A structured collection of words and "morphemes" LEXICON

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Rules re: how morphemes combine into words . MORPHOLOGY
Rules re: how words combine into phrases, sentences . SYNTAX

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
But you need more than these in order to know a language!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Recall the Previous Observation
(Thought 1)
of Thought 1

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Recall the Previous Observation
(Thought 1)
of Thought 1
A word is not just a combination of sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Observation: Words aren’t just sounds.
(9) The butterﬂy is sitting on the cat’s back.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(9) The butterﬂy is sitting on the cat’s back.
. True! False!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Truth-Conditional Meaning
When you know a language, you know
mmmwhat the world has to look like
mmmin order for a sentence to be true
mmmmmm- i.e., you know its truth-conditions.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(10) Harry Potter is wearing glasses
mmm(10) is true in World 1, 3, and 4!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(11) Harry Potter is wearing round glasses
mmm(11) is only true in World 1

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
When you know a language, you know what the world has to look like in
order for a sentence to be true - i.e., you know its truth-conditions.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
You have to know

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
You have to know
(i) The meaning of words - eg., what they refer to, and
(ii) How the meanings of the words combine to form the meanings of
phrases and sentences

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning
(i) The meaning of words
. LEXICAL SEMANTICS
(ii) How the meanings of words combine to form the meaning (i.e.,
truth-conditions) of sentences
. COMPOSITIONAL SEMANTICS
(iii) etc.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Hypothesis 3b: Language consists of:
1Where words and "morphemes" and sound, meaning pairs.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
(ii) A structured collection of words and "morphemes"1
LEXICON

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
LEXICON

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
LEXICON
Rules re: how the meaning of words/"morphemes" combine into the
meaning (i.e., truth-conditions) of sentences . SEMANTICS

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Are we done yet? Another Observation:
(12) CONTEXT: We’re watching Raven dance right now.
a. Raven is dancing True!
b.#Raven was dancing True!

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
When you know a language, you know more than just how to
calculate the truth-conditions of sentences

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
When you know a language, you know more than just how to
calculate the truth-conditions of sentences
You also know when using sentence is acceptable (felicitous)
regardless of whether or not it’s true

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
Pragmatics
Pragmatics is the study of language in context
(i) The non truth-conditional meanings of words, phrases and sentences
(ii) How these meanings interact with context
(iii) how these meanings interact with truth-conditional meaning
(iv) etc.

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
LEXICON

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Hypothesis 3
Hypothesis 3b
Hypothesis 4
LEXICON
Rules re: how to use words/sentences felicitously . PRAGMATICS

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Conclusion: A language consists of

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
(i) A structured collection of sounds Phonetic Inventory

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
(ii) A repository of meaning Semantic Ontology

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
(iii) Rules about how these elements combine (i.e., the "GRAMMAR")

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
sounds into complex sounds

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
sound and meanings into sound, meaning pairs

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
morphemes into words

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
words into phrases and sentences

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
simple morpheme meanings into complex meanings

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
simple morpheme meanings into complex meanings
complex meanings with context

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Course Syllabus & Requirements
Grade Breakdown V1 V2 V3
Instagram Homework (10 at 2%) 20% - -
Group Homework/Problem Sets (5 at 5%) 25% 25% -
Midterm 20% 30% 40%
Final EXAM or PROJECT 25% 35% 50%
Participation 10% 10% 10%
OVERALL 100% 100% 100%

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Midterm 20% 30% 40%
OVERALL 100% 100% 100%

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Weekly Instagram Homework
. Weekly Instagram Homework 10 x 2% = 20%
Find and explain pieces of linguistic data, or illustrate linguistic concepts
1 IPA Production (5 sounds) eg., [ì], [x], [N], [D], [T]
2 Phonological Minimal Pair eg., /majl/ and /smajl/
3 Morphological Minimal Pair eg., /smAl/ and /smAl-@ô/
4 ...
5 Design Features (Discreteness, Arbitrariness, Prevarication...)
6 ...

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Midterm 20% 30% 40%
OVERALL 100% 100% 100%

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Group Homework/Problem Sets
. Group Homework/Problem Set 5 x 5% = 25%
Solve a linguistic puzzle/data set (i.e., do some linguistic analysis)
1 IPA and Orthography Problem Set
2 Phonology Problem Set
3 Morphology Problem Set
4 Morphosyntax Problem Set
5 Semantics & Pragmatics Problem Set

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Midterm 20% 30% 40%
OVERALL 100% 100% 100%

1 Introduction
5 Conclusion
Final Project Option
. Final Project Option (in lieu of Exam) 25/35%
Present some original linguistic research and analysis
1 Research Proposal (W3)
mmm(Research Question, Data)
2 Progress Report (W6)
mmm(Research Question, Data, Hypothesis, Predictions)
3 First Draft (W11)
mmm(Research Question, Data, Hypothesis, Predictions, Analysis)
4 Final Poster/Presentation (W16)

Introduction to Language and Linguistics 001: What do you know when you know a language?

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