Chapter 7

Thinking, Intelligence, and

Language
Section 4 - Summary
(page 266-267)

What is Language?

Communication: ( is the process of sending and receiving

ideas between two or more people.)

Spoken: ( is the past participle of speak. )

Written: (is the past participle of write.)

Or signed system of symbols:

The Basic Properties of Language

All human languages have Infinite generativity

ability to produce endless meaningful sentences

This superb flexibility comes from five basic

rule systems. (definitions)

Phonology: is a languages sound system. Such as

ap.ple, a.b.c

Morphology: is a languages rules for word formation.

(the examples are prefix, root, suffix and complex.

Definition

Syntax: A languages rules for combining words to form

acceptable in phrases and sentences. (you cant just
throw any words together to make a sentence. It has to
make sense. For example: To the movies we are going.
We are going to the movies.

Semantics:

the meaning of words and sentences in a

particular language. (for example, sometimes we say is
raining cats and dogs. But we dont really mean it like
that.)

And the last one is

Pragmatics: the useful character of language and the

ability of language to communicate even more
meaning than is verbalized. .( Is how people use
language in real life.

The next section on LANGUAGE AND COGNITION will

examine all of the basics of language present which I
have presented

MY REFLECTION