LIN 001_ homework 1 (1)
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School
University of California, Davis *
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Course
001
Subject
Linguistics
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
Pages
2
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1.Writing prompt. What is a “symbol”? Why do we say that words in human languages are
largely “arbitrary symbols”? Give two examples to support your answer that words forms
are largely arbitrary. Please use examples that do not come from the text or from the
lecture.
A symbol is an object or sign that represents something, and it usually holds some significance.
Words in human languages are largely arbitrary symbols because there is often no connection
between the sounds of words and the meaning they hold. For example, there is no real reason
why the word cat represents a four-legged domesticated animal. When it comes to different
languages, they use various sounds or symbols to represent the same word like gato, meaning cat
in Spanish. Another example is the word “bark,” while on one hand, it means the sound a dog
makes, it also means the outer part of a tree. This is an example of the word sounding the same
but the meaning being totally different.
2. Writing prompt. While less common, there are cases where words in languages are not
completely arbitrary. Give two examples from English or another language that you may
know, that illustrates this point. If you are using non-English examples, please provide
sufficient explanations so that your TA can evaluate the examples given. Please use
examples that do not come from the text or from the lecture.
Some instances where the connection between sound and meaning is more prominent is also
common. For example, words with the “gl” sound, such as glow, glossy or glitter, relate to
something being shiny or lit. That “gl” sound in these words are associated with the experience
of seeing something light, bright, or sparkly to the eye. Another example is the word crunch,
which is a crackling sound commonly associated with the sound produced after biting into
something brittle or crisp. The word imitates the act typically involving something sharp being
broken or crushed.
3. Consider the following forms:
a. eiuuoaa
b. #%@!
c. kernel
d. aisle
e. lpwlln
g. colonel
Which of these are not words in English?
4. Consider the following forms:
a. Shooing her pet cat with a broom, Jasper was unsuccessful in his attempt to catch the bird.
b. Unsuccessful shooing broom a his bird lady old catch attempt her Jasper.
c. Them a was a and a the.
e. What the parents said was law –there were no ifs, ands or buts about it.
f. soggy doughnut.
Which of these multi-word forms would not be considered a proper English sentence?
5. Writing prompt. How were you able to make the determination that these words and
sentences were ill-formed? What term do linguists use to refer to this capacity? Why does
Professor Corina refer to this this capacity as “tacit”?
In order to construct a grammatically complete sentence, it is essential to include a noun and a
verb. Without these critical components, the phrase would not qualify as a proper sentence.
Taking the phrase “soggy doughnut,” for example, it contains the adjective “soggy” which
describes the condition of the noun. Then the noun doughnut, which is the object in this case.
Linguists use the term competence to understand a sentence's grammatical structure. That
involves having the ability to recognize a well-produced sentence according to the rules.
Professor Corina refers to this capacity as tacit because it is often hidden or not easily accessible.
6. Writing prompt. In German the word for “key” is marked for masculine grammatical gender,
in Spanish the word for “key” is marked for feminine grammatical gender. Research has shown
that when speakers were asked to describe a “key” that German speakers used adjectives like
rough, hard, useful and Spanish speakers used terms like shiny, tiny, lovely. Do these data
support Sapir-Whorf’s hypothesis of linguistic determinism or linguistic relativism? Defend your
answer.
This data indeed supports Sapir-Whorf’s hypothesis of linguistic relativism that the structure of
language influences thought, but it does not necessarily determine them. The speakers’
description of a “key” is influenced by linguistic categories, but there is still room for the
speakers to curate their own opinions. Yes, there are different grammatical genders in various
terms. Still, Sapir-Whorf’s hypothesis of linguistic relativism suggests that while it may shape
the way people speak and how they associate certain qualities with subjects. That it does not
determine anything and individual perceptions.
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