语言学文本

Chapter 1 Language and Linguistics

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

2. Properties of Language

A. Language is symbolic.

B. Language is arbitrary and conventional.

C. Language is systematic.

D. Language is human specific.

E. Language is socio-cultural

F. Language is dynamic

G. Language is habitual behavior

H. Language is functional

3. Design features of human language

The defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human languages and any system of animal communication.

A. Duality

It is also termed “double articulation”, referring to the fact that language is

organized at two levels or layers simultaneously: speech sound and meaning.

B. Arbitrariness

There is no intrinsic or inherent connection between a sound and a meaning; a

sound doesn’t have to mean a particular thing, and the same thing can be

expressed by different sounds.

C. Productivity

This feature is also called creativity or open-endedness. By this feature,

we refer to the fact that we are making and hearing new sentences all the time and the potential number of sentences in a language is infinite.

D. Displacement

language can be used to refer to things that are removed from the immediate situation of speaking. People can communicate about things and events happening here and there, and now and then. E. Cultural transmission

A person acquires a language in a culture with other speakers and not from parental genes.

A human baby doesn’t speak any la nguage at birth. A Chinese baby is not born to speak Chinese.

F. Interchangeability

The speaker has the ability to receive and also send the message.

G. Specialization

Speech is produced for communication, not chiefly for some other function, such as echolocation. And when people communicate, they have purpose and intention.

H. Discreteness

Language elements can be broken into segments.

4. Functions of human language

4.1 From a learner’s pragmatic point of view

A.means of communication

B. B. a tool of learning

C. a vehicle of thought

D. a weapon for survival & career

4.2 From an interactive point of view

A. phatic: language is used for setting up a certain atmosphere or maintaining social contact rather than for exchanging information or ideas. Greetings, farewells or comments on the weather or clothing.

B. directive: language is used to get the hearer to do something. Tell me the result when you finish.

C. informative: language is used to tell something, characterized by the use of declarative sentences.

D. interrogative : language is used to obtain information.

E. expressive: language is used to indicate the speaker’s feeling or attitude .

F. evocative: language is used to create certain feeling in the hearer. The aim is to amuse, startle, worry or please.

G. Performative: people speak to do things or perform. I’m sorry. Thank you. I promise not to be late again.

5. Definition and branches of linguistics

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language.

Phonetics (语音学) ----The study of sounds which are used in linguistic communication is called phonetics .( articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics, auditory phonetics.)

Phonology (音位学)---- The study of how sounds are put together and used in communication is called phonology.

Morphology (形态学,构词学) and lexicology (词汇学)----Morphology is the study of the structure of words, and lexicology is the study of vocabulary of a language.

Semantics (语义学)---- The study of meaning in language is called semantics.

Syntax (句法学)----The study of the structure and production of clauses and sentences. Pragmatics (语用学)----The study of meaning in context of use is called pragmatics Psycholinguistics (心理语言学)---- The study of language with reference to the workings of mind.

Sociolinguistics (社会语言学)---- Sociolinguistics is often defined as the study of language and society. It refers to the study of language in relation to social factors, that is , social class, educational level and type of education, age, sex, and ethnic origin, etc.

Applied linguistics (应用语言学)---- Findings in linguistic studies can often be applied to the solution of such problems as the recovery of speech ability. The study of such applications is generally known as applied linguistics.

Langue (语言) and parole (言语) ---- Langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of the speech community. Parole is the realization of langue in actual use. Competence (语言能力) and performance (语言运用,语言行为) ---- Competence is the ideal user’s knowledge of the rules o f his language. Performance is the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication

Descriptive (描写性研究) and prescriptive (规定性研究)----

If a linguistic study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use, it is said to be descriptive.