Morphology

Hi there,

This week we are discussing morphology. I believe you have do the readings I've recommended. To get some more, please visit the following sites. They are helpful.
1. http://www.tlumaczenia-angielski.info/linguistics/morphology.htm
2. http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~ling354/morphology.html

See you soon in a lively discussion.

Reminder: Make-up Quiz

This is to remind the students of the Tuesday afternoon class: we are having the make-up quiz on Tuesday, 21 Oct, from 2.30 pm. This is your last chance to get better mark, although IT IS NOT A MUST. If you think that you have some other more important things to do, it's fine. I'll take the result of the previous quiz.

Thanks.

Stop Vs Affricative Sound

A stop sound is pronounced with a sudden release of breath. In other words, it is produced by stopping air at some point and suddenly releasing it

Affricative sound is a composite speech sound consisting of a stop and a fricative articulated at the same point (as `ch' in `chair' and `j' in `joy').

The following are the explanations from Answers.com

plosive
(plō′siv)
n

Any speech sound made by impounding the airstream for a moment until considerable pressure has been developed and then suddenly releasing it (e.g., b, d, and g). One of two types of stop consonants, the other being affricative (e.g., ch).


affricative

(əfrik′ətiv)
n

A fricative speech sound initiated by a plosive.

One of you got 100 for Quiz 1

Congratulations...

I'm talking about the Tuesday 2.30 class at Room 204 (Bldg 4).

Yes... One of you answered all the questions correctly. I'm really proud of you. This shows me that you've learned hard, and you are really English Department student. Some of you got 90, some 80, some 70.

However, I'm quite surprised to see that only few of you understand the materials. Many of you did not answer even one question.

We have been doing the discussion. So far, no one seems to have a problem.
We have been utilizing this blog as a channel for discussion. Few of you, however, make use of this.

Well, I will let you have the make-up quiz. This is ONLY for THOSE WHO HAVE READ & LEARNED the materials. If you don't feel that you belong to this group, please think again before you come to our class. I mean, if you don't change your way of learning, you don't have to continue taking this course.

The make-up test will be given on Tuesday, Oct 21, starting at 2.30.
Read all the materials I've recommended, NOT ONLY the presentation handouts. You need to read the books.

Those who have got good marks are Mahardika, Sartika Dhian, Mega Asmara, and Dhian Widhi. These students do not need to do the make-up test.

Well, get prepared.

Depe

Language is Universal (Vs. Universal Language)

Dodik asks a question about this.
First, all languages in the world share the 12 characteristics.

Second, the universality of language refers to the fact that most language in the world share common rules, patterns, or rules. However, language is also so unique that each language has some features that cannot be found in any other language.

Third, universal language refers to a language that is used by a great number of people in the world. It is believed that Sanskrit used to be a universal language. Arabic can be called as a universal language because all moslems in the world use Arabic in their Koran, or even prayers. Please read wikipedia for more ideas about universal language.

Language is Arbitrary & Conventional

Okay guys...
I will try to answer some questions. Now it's about the features of language: arbitrary.

The term arbitrary here refers to the fact that the symbol that people use is made or chosen without any principle, logic or reason. For example, people in Java do not have a principle or logic to call an animal with long tail, two hands, and two legs and like scratching and playing on trees as kethek. There is no logic either for people in Jakarta to call that animal monyet. This is what arbitrary means.

So, to answer Daniel's question: English people do not have any reason why they call the animal that produces "meauwww" as cat. Again, this is because language is arbitrary: no logical reason is used when choosing a symbol, and no direct relationship between the symbol and the symbolized.

Now that a group of people have chosen a symbol for something, all the members of the group should approve and use the same symbol to refer to the same thing. In the example above, the members of Javanese language society approve the use of symbol kethek to refer to that animal, while the members of Betawinese approve the use of monyet. Again, the symbol should be the result of the convention of all members of the (language) society. That's why language is called conventional.

To answer Wisnukurnia: How is language created?
When a group of people make a new symbol and the all the members approve, then they will make a new language, or at least they add a new word for their language. Remember, language is a system consisting of many elements that support each other.
Well, once the language is used by the people, it will exist. No society exists without language, and no language exists without the society.

Hope, it's clear enough now. For further info, please read Abdul Chaer. He has clear explanation about this.

Cheers

Topic 1: Language

Sorry for the late post.

I'm happy that some of you have started posting.

Well. After our first discussion, we are now aware that the object of linguistics is human language, not animal language, not gesture, not programming language, etc. Please learn more about some definition of language.

Keep posting.