Fundamental Concepts in Linguistics

Why Prefer Learning English to Kikuyu?

Based on the reach of the languages, we note that the number of English speakers is much larger than the group's mother tongue, Kikuyu. Moreover, the degree of spread of English is far superior to Kikuyu; the proof is its international character, which leads it to occupy first place in this area. Finally, we have to say English is a language that has led to significant textual production. Over 95% of scientific texts published annually in international journals are in English.

What is "Power Sharing" and "Parochialism"?

The force of exchange is universal; the primary function of language is to communicate. Thanks to this, languages expand. Parochialism, on the other hand, is the spirit of narrow-mindedness. This force moves the consideration of language away from being a communication tool and puts forward its role as an emblem of the people.

Difference of Sound Image in Reading and Writing?

The sound image is essential to reading and writing. When reading, we undertake a double symbolic step: we go directly from the recognition of the graphic image to the sound image, which is reminiscent of the concept. To write, we make the same double symbolic step, but in reverse, since we start from the concept to which we associate a sound image, subsequently captured in a graphic image.

• Read: graphic image → sound image → concept
• Write: concept → sound image → graphic image

What is a Word?

If we adopt the perspective of written language, any sequence we call a word is notified by two blank spaces. If we adopt the perspective of spoken language, there is nothing that separates words from others. According to Leonard Bloomfield, the word is the minimum free form; that is to say, suitable by itself to constitute a message.

What is the First Articulation and its Units?

The units of the first articulation are not merely mastering words; while we have a repertoire of them, we must be able to construct sentences. That is, the domain of the first articulation involves mastery of syntax.

What Types of Words Exist?

Words can be structured primarily as lexematic if they refer to extra-linguistic reality; that is, if they cover reality through nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. Or they can be non-lexematic if they do not have extralinguistic meaning.

What is Mastering the Second Articulation?

The phonological elements of language are functional sounds. At this level, we find segmental elements (phonemes) and suprasegmental elements (intonation and accent). Knowing that the units of the second articulation are phonemes, it is clear that neither intonation nor accent belongs to the second articulation, although they are phonological elements.

Possibilities of the Lexicon Concept? Grammatical Categories.

The lexicon is the set of lexematic words. Lexematic words are those that cover external reality. The parts of speech are: nouns (give coverage to things), verbs (provide cover for actions), adjectives (give cover to qualities), and adverbs (provide cover for special conditions or circumstances).

Plane of Expression and Content Level

Everything in language moves on two fronts. On the one hand, we have the level of expression, and on the other hand, the content level. The expression is obviously that of signifiers, and the content, of meaning. There is nothing in language outside of these two planes. The level of expression in language is mental and physical in speech. The level of content is always and in any case mental; it is mental in language and speech.