Language Language ProductionProduction

and Conversationand Conversation

In In linguisticslinguistics, , language productionlanguage production is the production of spoken or is the production of spoken or written language. It describes all of written language. It describes all of the stages between having a the stages between having a concept, and translating that concept, and translating that concept into linguistic form concept into linguistic form

Stages of Stages of Language Language ProductionProduction

SStages of tages of Language Language ProductionProduction: : conceptualization, conceptualization, formulation, articulation, self-monitoringformulation, articulation, self-monitoring

Conceptualization: a conceptual representation of Conceptualization: a conceptual representation of what to saywhat to say

Encode Encode mmessage into linguistic formessage into linguistic form. Select words to . Select words to express conceptsexpress concepts

Organize words syntactically to convey a messageOrganize words syntactically to convey a message Articulation: generate auditory/written/signed Articulation: generate auditory/written/signed

sequence. sequence. Sound goes from speaker's mouth to Sound goes from speaker's mouth to hearer's earhearer's ear

Speech is decoded into linguistic form Speech is decoded into linguistic form Linguistic form is decoded into meaning Linguistic form is decoded into meaning

Message generationMessage generation

Message-conceptual representtaion Message-conceptual representtaion independent of particular wordsindependent of particular words

Take into account: level of Take into account: level of politeness, speech acts (question, politeness, speech acts (question, command, etc.)command, etc.)

Register (slang vs. Formal)Register (slang vs. Formal) ReferenceReference Listener knowledgeListener knowledge

Word selectionWord selection

Lexical access: Look up words in mental Lexical access: Look up words in mental dictionary. Pick word that you want to say, based dictionary. Pick word that you want to say, based on semantic features. Overcome competition on semantic features. Overcome competition from semantically similar words. Phonological from semantically similar words. Phonological features come into play, too. Sentences get built features come into play, too. Sentences get built when words are selected. Gramatical encoding.when words are selected. Gramatical encoding.

Adult englishAdult english Speaking vocabulary:........45.000-60.000 wordsSpeaking vocabulary:........45.000-60.000 words Speaking rate....................120-150 words/minSpeaking rate....................120-150 words/min Selection error rate..........1 in 1000 wordsSelection error rate..........1 in 1000 words

Word organizationWord organization

Apply syntactic and discourse rules Apply syntactic and discourse rules to determine a word sequence: e.g. to determine a word sequence: e.g. The glass is filled with water. vs. The glass is filled with water. vs. Water fills the glass.Water fills the glass.

Function wordsFunction words Inflectional morphemesInflectional morphemes agreementagreement

Word organization affetcs future Word organization affetcs future word organization in sentence word organization in sentence

productionproduction

Syntactic priming:Syntactic priming: The voice of a context sentence The voice of a context sentence

affects how a picture is described:affects how a picture is described: Active voice/passive voice in the Active voice/passive voice in the

contextcontext

Self-monitoringSelf-monitoring

Production is not a one-way transmission of Production is not a one-way transmission of messages. Speakers and writers are quickly messages. Speakers and writers are quickly capable of readjusting a message at the capable of readjusting a message at the stages of conceptualization, formulation, or stages of conceptualization, formulation, or articulation, depending on where they articulation, depending on where they noticed the brakdown in production occured.noticed the brakdown in production occured.

The fact that native speakers can monitor The fact that native speakers can monitor and quickly correct mistakes in linguistic and quickly correct mistakes in linguistic output proves Chomsky’s claim that there is a output proves Chomsky’s claim that there is a distinction between distinction between performance and performance and competence.competence.

There are two main types of There are two main types of research into speech production. research into speech production. One type focuses on using the One type focuses on using the analysis of speech errors. analysis of speech errors.

The other looks at reaction-time data The other looks at reaction-time data from picture-naming latencies. from picture-naming latencies.

Research into productionResearch into production Analysis of speech errors has found that not all are random, but rather Analysis of speech errors has found that not all are random, but rather

systematic and fall into several categories. Although speech systematic and fall into several categories. Although speech production is very fast, (2 words per second) the error rate of the production is very fast, (2 words per second) the error rate of the utterances are relatively rare (less than 1/1000) and those errors are utterances are relatively rare (less than 1/1000) and those errors are categorized as follows:categorized as follows:

AnticipationAnticipation: The word is in the speaker's mind and ready to be : The word is in the speaker's mind and ready to be spoken, but the speaker says it too quickly. This could be because the spoken, but the speaker says it too quickly. This could be because the speaker is planning and holding words in their mind. speaker is planning and holding words in their mind. Reading Reading list>leading listlist>leading list

PreservationPreservation: The word retains characteristics of a word said : The word retains characteristics of a word said previously in a sentence: previously in a sentence:

Taddle Tennis instead of Paddle TennisTaddle Tennis instead of Paddle Tennis BlendingBlending: More than one word is being considered and the two : More than one word is being considered and the two

intended items "blend" into a single item, perhaps implying the intended items "blend" into a single item, perhaps implying the speaker is waffling between a few word options. speaker is waffling between a few word options.

The child is looking to be spaddled instead of spanked or The child is looking to be spaddled instead of spanked or paddledpaddled

AdditionAddition: adding of linguistics material, resulting in words like : adding of linguistics material, resulting in words like implossibleimplossible, blue bug>blue blug, blue bug>blue blug

SubstitutionSubstitution: a whole word of related meaning is : a whole word of related meaning is replacing another. These errors can be far apart replacing another. These errors can be far apart from another, or target words, and are generally from another, or target words, and are generally grammatically consistent and accurate. grammatically consistent and accurate.

at low speed it's too light (instead of heavy)at low speed it's too light (instead of heavy) MalapropismMalapropism: a lay term referring to the incorrect : a lay term referring to the incorrect

substitution of words. It is a reference to a substitution of words. It is a reference to a character Mrs Malaprop from character Mrs Malaprop from SheridanSheridan's 's The RivalsThe Rivals. .

Makes no delusions to the past.Makes no delusions to the past. The pineapple of perfection.The pineapple of perfection. I have interceded another letter from the fellow.I have interceded another letter from the fellow.

SpoonerismSpoonerism: switching the letters from words. For : switching the letters from words. For example, the phrase example, the phrase slips of the tongueslips of the tongue could could become become tips of the slungtips of the slung. .

You have missed my history lectures> You have You have missed my history lectures> You have hissed my mistery lectureshissed my mistery lectures

You have wasted the whole term.>You have tasted You have wasted the whole term.>You have tasted the whole worm.the whole worm.

The dear old queen.>The queer old dean.The dear old queen.>The queer old dean. Is the Is the bbean ean ddizzy?izzy?

Reverend William A. Spooner

Why Speech Errors? Why Speech Errors? Freudian Freudian theory of production errors: theory of production errors: Errors represent unconscious beliefs or desires:Errors represent unconscious beliefs or desires:repressed thoughts of some kind.repressed thoughts of some kind.Last night my grandmother Last night my grandmother (died !) lied.(died !) lied. Psycholinguistic Perspective: Psycholinguistic Perspective: Speech errorsSpeech errors provide insights into the provide insights into the

workings of theworkings of thelanguagelanguage system.system. a a (real !) (real !) meal mystery meal mystery (anticipation)(anticipation)he pulled a he pulled a (tantrum !) (tantrum !) pantrum pantrum (perseveration)(perseveration)

It’s my pleasure to It’s my pleasure to preventprevent, , er...present the next person on the er...present the next person on the panel. panel.

(infer that the speaker objects to the (infer that the speaker objects to the person)person)

DisfluencesDisfluences

I ahve to remember to...I ahve to remember to...um..um..leave a leave a note.note.

Filler: um, er, uh, etc.Filler: um, er, uh, etc. Phoneme, word and phrase Phoneme, word and phrase

repetition.repetition.

Syntactic Level ErrorsSyntactic Level Errors

Syntactic level errors are slips Syntactic level errors are slips involving wholeinvolving whole words.words.

Syntactic Category Constraint: Slips Syntactic Category Constraint: Slips involve wordsinvolve words from the same lexical from the same lexical category.category.

((I loveI loveverbverb to danceto danceverbverb !) !)-- I danceI danceverb verb to to loveloveverbverb

ExchangeExchange the the ((sunsunnounnoun !) !) --skyskynounnoun is in is in the skythe sky

AnticipationAnticipation

Morphemic Level ErrorsMorphemic Level Errors

Morphemic level errors involve an incorrectMorphemic level errors involve an incorrect association between a stem and an inflection.association between a stem and an inflection.

Stranding Error: The inflection gets stranded inStranding Error: The inflection gets stranded in its its original correct position, whereas theoriginal correct position, whereas the intended intended stem is moved.stem is moved.

Closed-class items tend to get stranded, whereasClosed-class items tend to get stranded, whereas open-class items tend to get moved.open-class items tend to get moved.

• • ((rules of word formation rules of word formation !)!) words of rule words of rule formationformation..

• • She's already She's already ((packed two trunks packed two trunks !)!) trunked trunked twotwo

packs.packs.

Language Production:Language Production:ConversationConversation

1.LISA:1.LISA: Hey Eva there's something I wanted to tell Hey Eva there's something I wanted to tell youyou

2.EVA: mhm2.EVA: mhm 3.LISA: My brother is coming to town for a visit next 3.LISA: My brother is coming to town for a visit next

weekweek 4.EVA: How nice4.EVA: How nice 5. LISA: and you know, he broke up with that awful 5. LISA: and you know, he broke up with that awful

Julie Julie *last* week*last* week 6.EVA: *how* very nice., when's he getting here?6.EVA: *how* very nice., when's he getting here? 7.LISA: next Monday7.LISA: next Monday 8.EVA:8.EVA: Want to go shopping and help me pick outWant to go shopping and help me pick out

something really attractive before Monday?something really attractive before Monday?

Features of ConversationFeatures of Conversation

Personnel: Participants in a Personnel: Participants in a conversationconversation

Speaker(s) and addressee(s)Speaker(s) and addressee(s) Common Ground: Knowledge and Common Ground: Knowledge and

beliefsbeliefs shared by the personnelshared by the personnel Assumptions about what the other(s) Assumptions about what the other(s)

knowknow (s)/believe(s)(s)/believe(s)

The Production ofThe Production ofWritten LanguageWritten Language

Three Phases of the Writing Process:Three Phases of the Writing Process:

- - Planning: Setting goals, formulating Planning: Setting goals, formulating andand organizing ideas.organizing ideas.

- - Translating: Sentence generation.Translating: Sentence generation.

- - Reviewing: Evaluating and revising Reviewing: Evaluating and revising the text.the text.