英语语言学教案

英语语言学教案
本课程教学总体安排
课程名称：语言学概论
课程性质与类型：专业选修课
总学时, 学分：
教学目的与要求：
本课程的教学目的是使学生学习必要的语言学方面的基本理论和基本知识，掌握研究、运用语言的基本方法，为今后的工作打下坚实的基础。

在课程结束时，学生需达到以下要求：（1）了解语言的本质特征，语言的功能、语言学中的重要区别及普通语言学的主要分支。

（2）系统了解语言学各分支的知识，即语音学、音位学、句法学、语义学、语用学等的基本内容及研究方法。

（3）了解语言学与其他相关学科交叉所形成的学科，如心理语言学、社会语言学、应用语言学等的基本知识与研究方法。

（4）了解语言学主要流派的基本观点。

教材及参考书目：
Robins, R. H. 2003. A Short History of Linguistics, 4th ed.Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Reesmiller, J. & M, Aronoff. 2004. The Handbook of Linguistics. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
考核方式及成绩计算方法：
平时成绩占总成绩30%，期末成绩占总成绩的70%。

平时成绩包括出勤、课堂提问、平时作业、平时测验等。

Time Arrangement:
2008-9-1, the first week
Teaching Contents：
Chapter nguage and Linguistics: an Overview Teaching Aim：
1. To know what language is.
2. To grasp features of language and functions of language. Key Points and Difficulties:
1. Master the 7 features of language.
5.Grasp 3 functions of language.
Teaching Methods:
1. To help the students to understand the definition, features and functions of
language by giving examples.
3. To discuss between students and teachers.
Teaching Aids:
Blackboard
Teaching Procedures：
1. 1 What is language?
Language can mean
what a person says (e.g. bad language, expressions)
the way of speaking or writing (e.g. Shakespeare‘s language, Luxun‘s language)
a particular variety or level of speech or writing (e.g. language for
special purpose, colloquial language)
the abstract system underlying the totality of the speech/writing
behavior of a community (e.g. Chinese language, first language)
the common features of all human languages (e.g. He studies language)
a tool for human communication. (social function)
a set of rules. (rule-governed)
Sapir’s definition (1921)
―Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of
voluntarily produced symbols.‖
Hall’s d efinition (1968)
Language is ―the institution whereby humans communicate and interact with
each other by means of habitually used oral-auditory arbitrary symbols.‖
Chomsky’s definition (1957)
―From now on I will consider language to be a set of (finite or infinite)
sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elem ents.‖
nothing about the communicative function of language and its symbolic nature.
Language can be generally defined as
a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
What is communication?
A process in which information is transmitted from a source (sender or speaker) to a
goal (receiver or listener).
A system----elements in it are arranged according to certain rules. They cannot be
arranged at will.
e.g. He the table cleaned. (×)bkli (×)
Arbitrary----there is no intrinsic (logic) connection between a linguistic form and its meaning. words are just the symbols associated with objects, actions, and ideas by convention.―pen‖ by any other name is the thing we use to write with.
V ocal--------the primary medium for all languages is sound, no matter how well developed their writing systems are.
Writing systems came into being much later than the spoken
forms.
People with little or no literacy can also be competent language users.
Human ----language is human-specific. Bird songs, bee dances.
1.2 12 design/defining features of human language (Charles Hockett) Productivity/Creativity
Peculiar to human languages，users of language can produce and understand sentences they have never heard before, e.g. we can understand sentence like ― A red-eyed elephant is dancing on the hotel bed‖, though it does not describe a common happening in the world.
A gibbon call system is not productive for gibbon draw all their calls from a fixed repertoire which is rapidly exhausted, making any novelty impossible.
The bee dance does have a limited productivity, as it is used to communicate about food sources in any direction. But food sources are the only kind of messages that can b e sent through the bee dance; bees do not ―talk‖ about themselves, the hives, or wind, let alone about people, animals, hopes or desires Duality
Lower level----sounds (meaningless)
Higher level----meaning (larger units of meaning)
A communication system with duality is considered more flexible than one without it, for a far greater number of messages can be sent. A small number of sounds can be grouped and regrouped into a large number of units of meaning (words), and the units of meaning can be arranged and rearranged into an infinite number of sentences. Arbitrariness
No logical (motivated or intrinsic) connection between
sounds and meanings.
Not entire arbitrary, conventional: Onomatopoeic words (which imitate natural sounds) are somewhat motivated ( Engl ish: rumble, crackle, bang, …. Chinese: putong, shasha, dingdang… ) Some compound words are not entirely arbitrary, e.g. type-writer, shoe-maker, air-conditioner, photocopy…
Displacement
Language can be used to refer to things, which are not present: real or imagined matters in the past, present or future, or in far-away places.
Cultural transmission
Language is culturally transmitted (through teaching and learning; rather than by instinct). You acquire a language in a culture with other speakers and not from parental genes.
A Chinese speaker and an English speaker are not mutually intelligible. This shows that language is culturally transmitted. That is, it is passed on from one generation to the next by teaching and learning, rather than by instinct.
The story of a wolf child, a pig child shows that a human being brought up in isolation simply does not acquire human language.
Interchangeability
All members of a speech community can send and receive messages.
Reflexivity
Human language can be used to describe itself. We human beings can talk about talk, think about thinking, and thus only humans can ask what it means to communicate, to think, to be human.
1.3 Functions of language
Function is generally used in linguistics to refer to the roles language plays in our daily life or society. Function may refer to specific roles or general roles.
Specific roles
Informative function
One function of language, it means that language can be used to convey information among people.
Interpersonal function
It refers to the function of language which shows the speaker‘s identity, social status, attitude, motivation and etc. dear madam, your majesty, etc.
Performative function 施为功能
the performative function of language is primarily to change the social status of perons, as in marriage ceremonies, the sentencing of criminals.
Emotive/expressive function
a means of getting rid of nervous energy when we are under stress. Ouch wow, what a sight. Damn it, ow.
Phatic communion寒暄交际
one function of human language which is realized by using small, seemingly meaningless expressions to maintain a comfortable relationship between people whithout involving any factual content. Ritual exchanges about health or weather such as good morning, god bless you, nice day.
Recreational function
The use of language for the sheer joy of using it is called recreational function of hum an language. A baby‘s babbling or a chanter‘s chanting.
Metalingual function
Our language can be used to talk about itself.
General roles:
1.ideational function
2.interpersonal function
3.textual function
Time arrangement:
2008-9-8, the second week
Teaching Contents：
1.Linguistics: the scientific study of language.
2.Phonetics
Teaching Aim：
1. To know what linguistics is and its branches.
2. To grasp features of modern linguistics.
3. To master definition of phonetics and its branches
4. To have a knowledge of the sound producing mechanism
Key Points and Difficulties:
1. Branches of linguistics.
2. Features of modern linguistics.
3. Sound producing mechanism
Teaching Methods:
1. To help the students to understand the definition and its features by giving
examples.
2. To discuss between students and teachers.
Teaching Aids:
Blackboard
Teaching Procedures：
types of language(P6)
Natural languages and artificial languages
Genetic classification of languages
Typological classification of languages
language origin
The divine-origin theory---- Language is a gift of God to mankind.
The invention theory---- imitative, cries of nature, the grunts of men working
together. Language is human invention.
The evolutionary theory---- Language is a product of evolutionary
development of the human species. Language originated in the process of labor. Proposed by Darwin.
Linguistics : the scientific study of language.
Linguistics as a science
Definition:
language: all human languages
study: investigation, examination
A person who studies linguistics is known as a linguist.
A conceptual framework of science as a process（P10）
1.6.2 The scope or major branches of linguistics
The core of linguistic study
1.Phonetics
A branch of linguistics which studies speech sounds , including the production of
speech, that is how speech sounds are actually made, transmitted and received, the sounds of speech, the description and classification of speech sounds, e.g. [p] bilabial, stop.
2.Phonology
Phonology studies how sounds are put together and used to convey meaning in communication. E.g. Stop
3.Morphology
Morphology refers to the study of the internal structure of
words and the rules by which words are formed
4.Syntax
a branch of linguistics that studies how words are combined to form sentences and
the rules that govern the formation of sentences.
He likes linguistics.
He gave me a book/he gave a book to me.
5.Semantics
It is the study of language meaning. More specifically, semantics is the study of the meaning of linguistic units, words and sentences in particular.
He likes linguistics.
Fall &autumn dialectal synonyms
6.Pragmatics
the study of language in use or language communication; the study of the use of context to make inference about meaning.
Macrolinguistics
1.Applied linguistics
2.Sociolinguistics
3.Psycholinguistics
putational Linguistics
………
1.6.3
Features of modern linguistics
1.Priority is given to spoken language rather than written form.
2.Focus is on synchronic study of language rather than diachronic study of
language.
3.Modern linguistics is descriptive rather than prescriptive.
4.Modern linguistics is theoretically rather than pedagogically oriented.
Priority is given to spoken language rather than written
form?(P10)
Descriptive ---- describe/analyze linguistic facts observed or language people
actually use (modern linguistic)
Prescriptive ----lay down rules for ―correct‖ linguistic behavior in using
language (traditional grammar)
Synchronic study---- description of a language at some point of time (modern
linguistics)
Diachronic study---- description of a language through time (historical
development of language over a period of time)
Chapter 2 Phonetics
2.1 Definition of phonetics and its branches
A branch of linguistics which studies speech sounds , including the production of speech, that is how speech sounds are actually made, transmitted and received, the sounds of speech, the description and classification of speech sounds, e.g. [p] bilabial, stop.
Articulatory phonetics: from the speakers‘ point of view, ―how sp eakers produce
speech sounds‖
Acoustic phonetics: from the physical way or means by which sounds are transmitted from one to another.
Auditory phonetics:from the hearers‘ point of view, ―how sounds are perceived‖Production of speech sounds transmition of speech sounds perception of speech sounds
2.2 The sound producing mechanism
Speech organs: three important areas
Pharyngeal cavity ---- the throat;
The oral cavity ---- the mouth;
Nasal cavity ---- the nose.
The diagram of speech organs (P15)
Time arrangement:
2008-9-15, the third week
Teaching Contents：
Chapter Two 2.3-2.6
Teaching Aim：
1. To know phonetic transcription of speech sounds.
2. To grasp classification of English speech sounds.
Key Points and Difficulties:
1. Description of English consonants and vowels.
Teaching Methods:
1. To help the students to understand contents by explaining.
2. To discuss between students and teachers.
Teaching Aids:
Blackboard
Teaching Procedures：
2.3 phonetic transcription of speech sounds
Orthographic representation of speech sounds
A standardized and internationally accepted system of phonetic transcription is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The basic principle of the IPA is using one letter to represent one speech sound.
Broad transcription ---- used in dictionary and textbook for general purpose,
without diacritics.
Narrow transcription ---- used by phonetician for careful study, with
diacritics.
Some major articulatory variables
Dimensions on which speech sounds may vary:
Voicing---- voiced & voiceless
Nasality ---- nasal & non-nasal
Aspiration ----- aspirated & unaspirated
2.4 Classification of English speech sounds
English speech sounds are generally classified into two large categories:
V owels
Consonants
Note: The essential difference between these two classes is that in the production of the former the air stream meets with no obstruction of any kind in the throat, the nose or the mouth, while in that of the latter it is somehow obstructed. Classification
of consonants
English consonants may be classified according to two dimensions:
The place of articulation
The manner of articulation
The place of articulation
bilabial: [p], [b], [m], [w];
labiodental: [ f ], [v];
dental: [ ], [ ];
alveolar: [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l], [r];
palatal: [F], [V], [tF], [F], [ j ];
velar: [k], [g], [N];
glottal: [h].
The manner of articulation
stops/plosives: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g];
fricatives: [f], [v], [s], [z], [W], [T], [F], [V], [h];
affricates: [tF], [dV];
liquids: [l](lateral), [r];
glides/semivowels: [w], [j].
nasals: [m], [n], [N];
Classification of vowels
English vowels can be divided into two large categories:
Monophthongs or pure/single vowels
Four criteria (parameters) of vowel description:
According to which part of the tongue is held highest in the process of production, the vowels can be distinguished as: front vowels: [I:], [I], [e], [Z], [A], [B];
central vowels: [E:], [E], [Q];
back vowels: [u:], [u], [C:], [C], [B:].
According to the shape of the lips or the degree of lip
rounding
rounded: [u:], [u], [C:], [C];
unrounded: [I:], [I], [e], [Z], [A], [B], [E:], [E], [Q], [B:].
According to the height of tongue raising: high, middle, low According to the length or tenseness of the vowel : tense vs. lax or long vs. short
Diphthongs or gliding vowels
[ei], [ai], [aU], [EU], [Ri], [iE], [ZE], [UE].
Time arrangement:
2008.9.22—2008.9.28, 2hours
Teaching Contents：
Chapter 3 Phonology
Teaching Aim：
To let the students have the general idea about phonology.
Key Points and Difficulties:
phoneme; allophone; minimal pair; complementary distribution
Teaching Methods:
1. To help the students to understand contents by explaining.
2. To discuss between students and teachers.
Teaching Aids:
Blackboard
Teaching Procedures：
3.1 Phonetics & phonology
Both are concerned with the same aspect of language----the speech sounds.
But they differ in their approach and focus.
Phonetics is of general nature; it is interested in all the speech sounds used in
all human languages; it aims to answer questions like: how
they are produced, how they differ from each other, what phonetic features they have, how they can be classified, etc.
Phonology aims to discover how speech sounds in a language form patterns
and how these sounds are used to convey meaning in linguistic communication.
3.2 Phonemes and allophones
Phoneme---- A sound which is capable of distinguishing one word or one shape of a word from another in a given language is a phoneme. It‘s a basic unit in phonological analysis. It is not any particular sound, but an abstract segment. The phoneme is the smallest meaning-distinguishing unit. e.g. the phoneme /p/ can be represented differently in [pIt], [tIp] and [spIt]. Phonemes are placed in slashes ―/ / ‖. Allophone----when we have a set of phones, all of which are versions of one phoneme, we refer to them as the allophones of that phoneme.
One phoneme may have several allophones, but the choice of an allophone is rule-governed.
3.3 Contrastive distribution & complementary distribution
Minimal pair----when two different forms are identical in every way except for one sound segment which occurs in the place in the strings, the two words are said to form a minimal pair, e.g. pill & kill, map & nap, bit & pit, bet & boot. Minimal pairs are established on the basis of sound and not spelling.
Minimal set---- when several different forms are identical in every way except for one sound segment which occurs in the place in the strings, the words are said to form a minimal set, e.g. pill , kill ,bill ,mill and till. Beat, bit, bet, boot, but and bite. Contrastive distribution----different or distinctive phonemes are in phonemic contrast, e.g. /b/ and /p/ in [ bIt ] and [pIt].
Complementary distribution----allophones of the same phoneme are in complementary distribution. They do not distinguish meaning. They occur in different phonetic contexts, e.g. dark [l] & clear [l], aspirated [p] & unaspirated [p].
Free variation---- if segments appear in the same position but the mutual substitution does not result in change of meaning, they are said to be in free variation.
Phoneme discovery procedure (P27)
3.4 Some rules of phonology
Sequential rules: the rules that govern the combination of sounds in a particular language, e.g. in English, ―k b i I‖ might possibly form blik, klib, bilk, kilb.
If a word begins with a [l] or a [r], then the next sound must be a vowel.
If three consonants should cluster together at the beginning of a word, the combination should obey the following three rules, e.g. spring, strict, square, splendid, scream.
a) the first phoneme must be /s/,
b) the second phoneme must be /p/ or /t/ or /k/,
c) the third phoneme must be /l/ or /r/ or /w/.
Assimilation rule: assimilates one sound to another by ―copying‖ a feature of a
sequential phoneme, thus making the two phones similar, e.g. the prefix in is pronounced differently when in different phonetic contexts:
indiscreet alveolar [In]
inconceivable velar [IN ]
input bilabial [Im]
The following sound affects the preceding sound, this kind of assimilation is called regressive assimilation.
The preceding sound affects the following sound, this kind of assimilation is called progressive assimilation.
好啊hao wa
海啊hai ya
看啊kan na
唱啊chang Na
跳啊tiao wa
Deletion rule: it tells us when a sound is to be deleted although it is
orthographically represented, e.g. design, paradigm, there is no [g] sound; but the [g] sound is pronounced in their corresponding forms signature, designation, paradigmatic.
3.5 Syllable structure, sequence of phonemes (P29)
3.6 Suprasegmental features
The phonemic features that occur above the level of the segments (larger than phoneme)
stress。