What do you know when you know a language? Basic terms continued

Linguistic competence vs. Linguistic performance

•linguistic competence: lg user's (mostly unconscious) knowledge of the rules of a lg

•linguistic performance: lg user's actual speech behaviour; performance provides important clues to what is in a speaker's competence

1.The sound system - phonology: knowledge of sounds of a given lg; knowledge which sound clusters are possible in a given lg in different positions

a)Ptah, Ptolemy

b)apt, captive, lapped

c) g i s n t

2. Morphology

a) hewenttotownonhishorse

b) The gloopy malchicks scattered razdrazily to the mesto.

(Anthony Burgess: “A Clockwork Orange”)

3. Syntax

a) You up pick at o'clock will eight.

b) I will picks you up at eight o'clock.

c) I will pick you up at eight o'clock.

d) I just saw a unicorn playing a concerto on his horn.

e) Colourless green ideas sleep furiously.

4. Semantics

a. Mary threw up her lunch.

b) Visiting Martians can be a nuisance.

c) I saw her duck.

d) John is an unmarried male.

e) John is a bachelor.

f) The car bumped the truck.

g) The truck was bumped by the car.

5. Pragmatics

Sentence

Situation

1. Pardon me, but would you mind opening the window, please?

a. Doing homework with your girlfriend/boyfriend.

2. Open the window, will ya buddy?

b. Babysitting your snotty younger brother.

3. Open the window now.

c. Meeting with the dean in his/her office.

4. Gee, it's hot in here.

d. Sitting in a bus next to a man dressed in work clothes.

Reference

•Fromkin, V. & Rodman, R. (1998) An Introduction to Language. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. 6th edition. - Chapter 1 „What is language?”

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