语言学导论第一章答案

Chapter one Invitations to language
Reference keys
I 1. verbal 2. productivity.3 metalingual function 4. yo-he-ho 5. Pooh-pooh 6. contact 7. language 8. descriptive 10. diachronic linguistic 11. langue 12. competence 13. arbitrary vocal 14. scientific ,language 15. descriptive, prescriptive 16. Synchronic, diachronic 17. abstract, realization 18. knowledge, realization 19. arbitrariness 20. displacement 21 sounds, meaning 22. transmitted
II. 1. B 2.B 3. C 4. A 5. C. 6.C 7.C 8.C 9.B 10.D 11. A 12.C III. 1.T 2.F 3.T 4.F 5.T 6.T 7.T 8.F 9.T 10.F 11.F 12.T 13.F 14.T 15.F 16.F 17.T18.T19.F20.T
VI. Questions
1.What are the attributes of language that must be included in the
definition of language?
Language is a means of verbal communication. It includes the following attributes: language has system; it is vocal and arbitrary; it is a human and social activity; it is non-instinctive and is related to culture; language changes with time.
2. If language is partially defined as communication, can we all say the voices that dogs make are languages? Why or why not?
No.It is observed that dogs may use barking to express anxiety, submission and threats, but it is very different from human language in
many aspects. Firstly, human language has two systems: the system of sound and the system of meaning. So language is a system by which sounds and meanings are related. But dogs’ voice has not the two sets of structures. Second, The creative use language is unique to human beings. But dogs can not segment speech sounds, nor can they form an infinite set of utterance from a finite set of units by use of limited rules. Third, Dogs’ voice is only emotional response to particular stimuli, and have no way to express their feelings yesterday or their imaginations tomorrow. But human beings can talk about things at present, in the past or in the future, and things real or imagined.
3. Point our three major differences between linguistics and traditional grammar.
略
4.What kind of evidence supports the idea that language is culturally transmitted.
略
5.One of he main features of our human language is arbitrariness. Can you briefly explain what feature it refers to? Support your argument with examples.
Language is arbitrary in the sense that there is no intrinsic connection between the sounds that people use and the objects to which these sounds refer. The fact that different languages have different words for the same
object is a good illustration of the arbitrary nature of language,. It is only our tacit agreement of utterance and concept at work and not any innate relationship bound up in the utterance. A typical example to illustrate the “arbitrariness” of language is “ a rose by any name would smell as sweet”。