What is the definition of "language?" What are the properties of a "true" language?
What will be an ideal response?
Essay should include:
Experts define language as "the communication of thoughts and feelings by means of symbols which are arranged according to the rules of grammar.". Given this definition, only humans use language.
True language is distinguished from the communication systems of lower animals by specific properties. One of these properties is semanticity. Semanticity describes the sounds or signs of a language that have meaning. Words serve as symbols for objects and actions. Another property of true language is infinite creativity, that is, people have the ability to put words together in creative and unusual ways. They have the capacity to create, rather than simply imitate, sentences. Lastly, true language allows displacement. That is, true languages allow one to communicate information about events or objects in another time and place. In this way, people transmit information from one generation to another.
Chapter 8: Motivation and Emotion
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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Which stage of prenatal development begins at about 8 weeks after conception and continues until birth?
A. fertilization stage B. zygotic stage C. embryonic stage D. fetal stage
A general rule of conduct reflecting standards of social approval and disapproval that is established by society is a(n)
a. social norm. b. reciprocity norm. c. equity norm. d. justice norm.
Wei-Shin was mugged while he was walking across campus alone one evening. The event left him with his wallet and identity stolen, and a broken nose and rib. Wei-Shin thinks to himself, "What kind of world is this, where someone will mug a poor college student?" Wei-Shin is having trouble coping because this traumatic event has challenged his ____
a. attitude accessibility b. downward comparisons c. assumptive worlds d. attitude-behavior consistency
The intent to harm another, either physically or verbally, is referred to as
A) scapegoating. B) prejudice. C) aggression. D) discrimination.