新编简明英语语言学教程复习资料全解-共10页

Chapter one Introduction

一、定义

1.语言学Linguistics

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language.

2.普通语言学General Linguistics

The study of language as a whole is often called General linguistics.

3.语言language

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.

语言是人类用来交际的任意性的有声符号体系。

4.识别特征Design Features

It refers to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.

语言识别特征是指人类语言区别与其他任何动物的交际体系的限定性特征。

Arbitrariness任意性Productivity多产性Duality双重性

Displacement移位性Cultural transmission文化传递

The design features mentioned in the course book include arbitrariness, productivity or creativity, duality, displacement and cultural transmission.

By arbitrariness it is meant that the symbols used in human language are arbitrary, i.e. there is no logical connection between the symbols and what they stand for.

The feature of productivity means that language is productive or creative, i.e. it is possible for its users to construct and understand an unlimited number of sentences, including sentences they have never heard before.

Duality is a feature of the structure of the human language system, which consists of two levels. At the lower level there exist a limited number of sounds which are meaningless, while at the higher level these meaningless sounds can be arranged and rearranged in various ways to form meaningful language units, unlimited in number.

The feature of displacement means that language can be used to refer to things which are present or not present, real or unreal, in the past, present, or future.

Cultural transmission, in contrast to genetic transmission, refers to the fact that human babies, though born with the ability to acquire a language, must be taught to use it.

5.语言能力Competence

Competence is the ideal user’s knowledge of the rules of his language.

6.语言运用performance

Performance is the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.

语言运用是所掌握的规则在语言交际中的体现。

7.历时语言学Diachronic linguistics

The study of language change through time. a diachronic study of language is a historical study, which studies the historical development of language over a period of time.

8.共时语言学synchronic linguistics

The study of a given language at a given time.

9.语言langue

The abstract linguistic system shared by all members of a speech community.

10.言语parole

The realization of langue in actual use.

11.规定性Prescriptive

It aims to lay down rules for ”correct” behavior, to tell people what they s hould say and what should not say.

12.描述性Descriptive

A linguistic study describes and analyzes the language people actually use.

二、知识点

1. L anguage is not an isolated phenomenon, it’s a social activity carried out in a certain social environment by human beings.

语言不是一种孤立的现象，而是人类在一定的社会环境下进行的一种社会活动。

2.几种观点和现象的提出者：

⑴瑞士语言学家F.de Saussure F.de Saussure: Langue和parole的区别

⑵U.S.A linguist N. Chomsky美国语言学家N. Chomsky

in1950针对Saussure’s langue & parole提出Competence和performance

3. the word “language”preceded by the zero-article, it implies that linguistics studies not any particular language.

Language一词前不加冠词说明语言学家不只研究一种特定的语言。

三、问答题

1. What are major branches of linguistics? What does each study?

Phonetics----it’s defined as the study of the phonic medium of language, it’s concerned with all the sounds that occur in the world’s languages.

Phonology---the study of sounds systems—the inventory of distinctive sounds that occur in a language and the patterns into which they fall.

Morphology---It’s a branch of a grammar which studies the internal structure of words and the rules by which words are formed.

Syntax-------it's a subfield of linguistics that studies the sentence structure of a language. Semantics---It’s simply defined as the study of meaning in abstr action.

Pragmatics---the study of meaning in context of words.

Sociolinguistics—the study of language with reference to society.

Psycholinguistics---the study of language with reference to the working of the mind.

Applied linguistics---the application of linguistic principles and theories to language teaching and learning.

2. What makes modern linguistics different from traditional grammar?

Modern linguistics is descriptive, its investigations are based on authentic and mainly spoken language date. 现代语言学是描述性的，其研究以确实可靠的、主要以口语形式的资料为基础。

Traditional grammar is prescriptive. It is based on “high” written language.