语言学术语解释和举例

1. Sequential Rules [sɪ'kwenʃ(ə)l] 序列规则Sequential Rules are rules that

govern the combination of sounds in particular language.

e.g. If a word begins with a /l/ or /r/, then the next sound must be a vowel（元音）.

2. Prototype ['prəʊtətaɪp]原型

What members of a particular community think of as the typical instance of a lexical category.

e.g. F or some English speakers “cabbage”(rather than say carrot) might be the

prototypical vegetable.

3. Presuppositional Trigger 预设触发语

A presupposition trigger is a construction or item that signals the existence of a

presupposition in an utterance.

e.g.” Jane had another date with John.” It presupposes the fact that Jane has had one

date with John before. Apparently, the use of “another” called a presupposition trigger.

4. Possessor [pə'zesə] 所有人

Refers to one who has something

e.g. Jane’s doll. The first noun is the possessor.

5. Positive Face 积极面子

The positive consistent self-image or “personality”(including the desire that this self-image be appreciated and approved of)claimed by interactants.

e.g.: You are excellent.

6. Phoneme ['fəʊniːm] 音位The smallest unit in the sound system

of a language

e.g. the two words peak and speak, we are aware that the sound /p/ is pronounced

differently

7. Performative Utterance 言有所为

It is a sentence which is not true or false but instead 'happy' or 'unhappy', and which is uttered in the performance of an illocutionary (语内表现行为的) act rather than used to state something.

e.g. "I swear to do that", "I promise to be there"

8. Negative Face 消极面子

The basic claim to territories, personal preserves, rights to non-distraction. i.e. to freedom of action and freedom from imposition.

e.g.: You’d better not smoke here.

9. Morpheme ['mɔ:fi:m] 词素

The smallest meaningful unit of language. It can not be divided without altering or destroying its meaning.

e.g. the English word unkindness consists of three morphemes: the S TEM1 kind, the

negative prefix un-, and the noun-forming suffix -ness.

10. Metonymic Reasoning [,metə'nimik] 转喻推理

Metonymic Reasoning is a figure of speech used in rhetoric(修辞) in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately(密切地) associated with that thing or concept.

For instance, "London", as the capital of the United Kingdom, can be used as a metonym (an instance of metonymy) for the British government

e.g:silk suits you.”silk stands for the cloth made of silk.

11. Truth-conditional Semantics 语义真值条件

Truth-conditional Semantics is an approach to semantics(语义学) of natural language that sees the meaning of assertions as being the same as, or reducible to, the truth conditions of that sentence..

For example, 'snow is white'.

12. Theme [θiːm] 主题

Refers to one or thing that undergoes an action

e.g.sam found the dog.

13. Synonymy [sɪ'nɒnɪmɪ] 近义词/同义词

Synonyms are words which have different forms but similar meanings.

e.g. Start, begin, commenc e

14. Syllable ['sɪləb(ə)l] 音节

Syllable is phonological unit which is composed of one or more phonemes.. Every syllable has a nucleus, which is usually a vowel.

For example, /let/ consists of one syllable, whereas /ri’ga:d/ consists of two syllables. 15. Source 来源

Refers to the place from which an action originates.

For example, Sam left Beijing for Nanjing.

16. Metaphoric Reasoning 隐喻性思维

A word or phrase which is used for special effect, and which does not have its usual or literal meaning

e.g. My hands are as cold as ice.

17. Location 位置

Refers to the place where an action happens,

e.g. Jane put the magazines on the table. The table is location.

18. Instrument 工具

Refers to the means by which an action is performed.

For example, the key opened the door.

19. Indirect Speech Act 间接言语行为

A speech act in which the communicative intention is not reflected in the linguistic form of the utterance

For example, “It is very hot in here” may be used to e xpress a request to turn on the air conditioner.

20. Impersonalization [im,pə:sənəlai'zeiʃən] 非人格化

A device used either to avoid mentioning oneself or the interlocutor(对话者), or to appeal to public rule or institutional regulation, which helps to gain successful interpersonal communication.

e.g. (1)I don’t think you can smoke in the waiting room, sir. (2)Smoking is not allowed in the waiting room, sir. Obviously, (2) is more polite than (1).

21. Hyponymy [haɪ'pɒnɪmɪ] 下义词

A relationship between two words, in which the meaning of one word includes the meaning of the other words.