1. What is productivity?
Productivity in language means we can create and understand novel utterances that have never been said before. This is done by combining existing elements (words, morphemes, grammatical rules) in new ways.
2. Contrast with animal communication:
Animal communication systems are typically finite. They have a limited number of signals that are usually tied to specific situations or contexts. For example, a bird might have a call to signal danger, but it can't combine that call with another to create a new meaning.
3. Implications of human language productivity:
* Infinite expressivity: We can talk about anything imaginable, past, present, or future, real or imagined.
* Creativity and innovation: We can create new words, metaphors, and jokes.
* Flexibility and adaptability: We can adapt our language to different situations and audiences.
* Cultural transmission: We can pass on knowledge and ideas through generations, even about things that are not physically present.
4. Examples of productivity:
* Sentence formation: You can combine words in different ways to create an infinite number of sentences.
* New words: We constantly create new words based on existing ones (e.g., "selfie," "cyberpunk").
* Metaphorical language: We can use language metaphorically to create new meanings ("He's a rock star").
Conclusion:
Productivity is a fundamental property of human language that allows us to communicate effectively and creatively. It's a powerful tool that has enabled us to develop complex cultures, civilizations, and technologies.