Vocal-Auditory Channel

Human beings communicate using language produced by the speech organs located in the vocal tract and hearing it through auditory organs. The most common experience men have of language is in speaking and listening to it. This reveals that speech is prior to its representation in writing. All speech sounds used in languages spoken in the world are produced by the same set of speech organs, and all of them can be described by the describing the movement of these organs.

Reciprocity

This property refers to the interchangeability of the roles assigned to each participant in a communication chain. In other words, each participant is expected to reciprocate in the process. Human beings are capable of acting both the speaker and the hearer as each individual is equipped with the same type of speech organs. For example, we do not have sex-oriented roles as is the case in most animal communication, i.e. red spots on the stickleback, male songs in birds, etc.

Neither the types of messages sent, nor the roles for message transmission are associated with a certain participant in human communication.

Specialization

Human speech organs and speech signals appear to have no immediate purpose beyond communication. In some communication systems signals are in fact a byproduct of other functions, whereas human communication system is primarily specialized for communication.

Non-directionality

In human communication, speaker (transmitter) and hearer (receiver) do not necessarily be in direct contact facing each other. Speech signals can be received by anyone within hearing distance; either face to face, or back to back. Hearing in human beings is less directional. We do not have to rotate our ears to focus in on a direction like dogs.

Rapid-fade

Speech fades as fast as it flows. This refers to the transitory nature of the speech signal. Speech signals are not permanent. Unless we make a written record of speech signals, they disappear right after they are produced without leaving a visual trace behind. This is different from most animal communication realized through chemical reactions, such as the case with the stickleback.

Son düzenleme tarihi: 08-04-2007 04:26 PM. Düzenleyen: FoX.

1) It is possible to combine morphemes, words, and phrases in new ways that are grammatical and understandable to other native speakers. For instance, the word sürey is a made-up word, but I can say süreycik, and the listener would understand that it is a small sürey whatever sürey is.
What property of human language does this exemplify?

a. discreteness
b. productivity
c. interchangeability.
d. arbitrariness

2) Which one does NOT always display arbitrariness?

a. speech sounds
b. words
c. rules of grammar
d. most sounds of the nature

3) Bees are innately programmed to dance. They will dance whether they see other bees dancing or not.
It is an innate reflex, not something that they learn to do.

This indicates lack of _________ in bee language.

a. cultural transmission
b. duality
c. displacement
d. arbitrariness

4) Fiddler crabs can be said to posses some of the qualities of human language. Which of the following might they posesses?

a. duality
b. displacement
c. productivity
d. reciprocity

5) When a bee repeats its dance to show the quality of the food source,
what property of human language is it displaying?

a. discreeteness
b. duality
c. rapid fading
d. displacement

6) Which property of the speech signal does the following expression signify?

a. rapid fading
b. arbitrariness
c. cultural transmission
d. specialization

7) Which one of the following requires directionality?

a. a discussion
b. a telephone conversation
c. a hand-shake
d. a lecture

8) Which feature allows economy in language?

a. arbitrariness
b. cultural transmission
c. duality
d. displacement

9) Which property of language does the following emphasize?

"However eloquently your dog can bark, he can't tell you his father was poor but honest". (Bertrand Russell)

a. discreteness
b. displacement
c. rapid-fading
d. productivity

-------------

ANSWER KEY:
1) b
2) d
3) a
4) d
5) d
6) a
7) c
8) c
9) b
-------------