LANGUAGES: Introduction
Intro 1- WHAT IS A LANGUAGE? 2- THE IDEA AND THE WORD 3- TRICKY EXAMPLES
1- What is a language? Do animals have languages? What about birds? What about dolphins? What about spiders?
Language is a human property. Animals can communicate but they do not have a proper language - WHY?
Two basic properties of language: ADAPTATIONADAPTATION E.G. E.G. Spiders cannot adapt their dances. CREATIVITYCREATIVITY We can create new words whenever we want and need. E.G. E.G. Google something (verb), Skype someone (verb), selfie, snapchat.
Adaptation You can adapt you speech wether you address kids, teachers, friends, parents... Hi mates! What's up? What have you been up to? Hello my dear friends. How do you do? I was wondering how you were doing and what you have been up to. Sorry, I'm late. I cannea do that. I apologize for being late. I'm afraid I cannot do that.
Creativity Languages are flexibleLanguages are flexible. (to skype, to google, to facebook message, to text)You can create new words whenever you need them. (to skype, to google, to facebook message, to text).
Languages are flexibleThey evolve through time.Languages are flexible. They evolve through time. Words meanings change and evolve: 'girl' 'girl' = used to mean a young person (female or male) 'worm' 'worm' = used to mean a monster in general. 'dog' = used to be a particular kind of dog (powerful, strong).
A language which does not change and evolve through time is a DEAD language. (Latin)
word The idea (concept) and the word
The idea and the word = FLOWER = FLEUR
The idea = the concept HOUSE MAISON CASA HAUSE Same concept (idea) but 4 different words.
2 different words to express the same idea. Sometimes, in the same language people can have 2 different words to express the same idea.
traverser (la rue)crosser (la rue)
A pharmacy A chemist's A drugstore
ENGLISH SNOW
FRENCH NEIGE
SPANISH NIEVE
The example of the Inuit Languages... Aneo, « neige pour l'eau » Aneogavineq, « neige très dure et compacte » Aniulc, « neige pour l'eau à boire » Aoktorunrzeq, « neige tassée, fondue et gelée, là où un chien a dormi » Aomyolc, « neige fondante » ; Apinngraut, « première neige de l'automne » Aput, « neige par terre » Ikiartoq, « bloc de neige formé de plusieurs couches de neige qu'on peut couper horizontalement » Ijaruvak, « neige fondue transformée en cristaux » Auviq, « brique de neige pour faire un igloo » Maujaq, « neige épaisse et molle où il est ardu de marcher »
Same thing for the 'gender' of words.. Same thing for the 'gender' of words... un film una una pelicula a a movie / film Der Film
Other examples I went to school yesterday Je suis allé à l'école hier plus concise. La traduction anglais comporte souvent moins de mots que sont équivalent anglais. On dit que l'anglais est une langue plus concise.
WENT = suis allé "went" L'idée de "suis allé" est traduite par le seul mot "went" en anglais.
Other examples ate I ate Haggis for Hogmanay J’ai mangé du Haggis pour le réveillon du nouvel an
Other examples played soccer with my pals. I played soccer with my pals. J’ai joué au foot avec mes potes.