1. Linguistic Anthropology
Design Features of Human Language

2. Defining Language Charles Hockett
Attempting to identify the features that are unique to human language
Started with thirteen features
Charles Hockett ( )

3. Design Features of Language
Vocal/auditory channel – uses vocal apparatus and ears
Broadcast transmission / directional reception – sent in all directions; source can be discerned
Rapid fading – signal is (very) impermanent
Interchangeability – a person can say what they just heard

4. Design Features of Language
Total feedback – a person can monitor themselves as they speak
Specialization – sounds are used only for language purposes
Semanticity – signals can be match to meanings
Arbitrariness – sounds do not have an intrinsic relationship to their meanings

5. Design Features of Language
Discreteness – sounds are separate units
/p/ versus /b/
Displacement – can speak about what is not here and not now
Productivity – human language is an open system; new utterances can be made form old ones
Traditional transmission – learned from others

6. Design Features of Language
Duality of patterning – meaningless phonemes can be infinitely combined into words
/ k + æ + t + s /
Prevarication –falsehoods, lies, and meaningless statements
Reflexiveness – Language can be used to discuss language

7. Design Features of Language
Learnability – a speaker of one language can learn another language
Grammaticality – a speaker follows rules when they produce sounds

8. Which of These
Are Unique to Humans?