These help understand the essential element of human language

Lg is complex thus it is difficult to see the similarities among them

Lg is a system of signs and every sign is a menaningful unit

A phrase coined in the 1960s by the American linguist Charles Hockett.

Hockett isolated 16 features (originally13) that characterize human language and which distinguish it from other communication systems.

the final 4 features (Displacement, productivity, cultural transmission, and duality) are reserved for humans.

Born January 17, 1916 Columbus , Ohio, EEUU Died November 3, 2000(2000-11-

03) (aged 84)

Known for contributions to structural

languageCharles Francis

Hockett

LaNGuAgE

Total Feedback - Individuals are able to hear and internalize a message they have sent. › Monitor› Not from animals & traffic signals› Able to adjust to be understoood

Semanticity- Speech sounds can be linked to specific meanings.Words have stable relationship to objects› EX: sal/salt/sel(French). It is recognizable in

these lgs

Arbitrariness- There is no direct connection between the signal and its meaning.› The same in animal sounds (dogs)

Discreteness - Each unit of communication can be separated and unmistakable. parts (sounds, letters)› = P & B

Specialization- Speech is produced for communication, not chiefly for some other function, such as echolocation.› Special sounds› Human organs› Not for animals

Displacement- The ability to talk about things that are not physically present.› Tenses/ fiction› Don’t exist› Not present

Traditional/ cultural Transmission - The learning of language occurs in social groups.› Probably LAD› transmission is necessary

Duality of Patterning – It is the ability to recombine small units. (sounds/ words)Similar to productivity (new sentences)

A finite of unit combine in infinite ways to create meaning

Prevarication- The ability to make false statements (to lie). To deceive

› True or false (write to statements, which is which)

Productivity - The ability to create new messages by combining already-existing signs.

› Human are creative› Example: 3 sentences any

› (proficient speaker) can understand

Interchangeability

the speaker can both receive and broadcast the same signal.

Animal communication may be limited to gender and species

Rapid fading:

A language signal does not persist over time. Speech waveforms fade rapidly and cannot be heard after they fade.

Reflexiveness - Language can be used to refer to itself. (meta-language)

Blending - was not considered one of the design features, however it is a phenomenon of language. Blending occurs when two words are mixed together to form a new one. 

Learnability- Speakers of one language can learn to speak another.

Vocal-auditory channel : human language occurs as a vocal (making sounds with the mouth)

May include other senses Use of hand while talking Hear in the dark

Broadcast transmission and directional reception : language signal is sent out in all directions, , while it is perceived in a limited direction.

Hear at a Distances

http://people.exeter.ac.uk/bosthaus/Lecture/hockett1.htm

http://people.du.ac.in/~pkdas/inter/fhl.pdf

http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~swinters/371/designfeatures.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockett's_design_features