《英语语言学》复习重点

Chapter I

1.Linguistics is usually defined as the science study of language

2.what are major branches of linguistics?

Phonetics----it studies the sounds used in linguistics communication.

Phonology---it studies how sounds are put together and used to convey the meaning in communication.

Morphology---it studies the way in which linguistic symbol representing sounds are arranged and combined to form words.

Syntax-------it studies the rules which govern how words are combined to form grammatically permissible sentence in languages.

Semantics---it studies meaning convey by language.

Pragmatics---it studies the meaning in the context of language use.

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.

4. The definitions of important distinctions in lingustics: Who distinguished them?

（1）descriptive VS. presriptive;

Descriptive(描写式):describe and analyze the language people actually use.

eg: American don’t say “I’ll give you some color see see.”

Prescriptive(规定式): laying down rules for “correct and standard”behaviour in using language.

eg: Don’t say “I’ll give you some color see see.”

（2）synchronic VS. diachronic;

Synchronic study(共时性) --- description of a language at some point of time

Diachronic study(历时性) --- description of a language through the course of its history (historical development of language over a period of time)

（3）speech and writing

Speech is prior to writing

（4）langue & parole;

Langue: (语言) the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of a speech community.

Parole: (话语) the realization of langue in actual use.

（5）competence and performance.

Competence:(语言能力.)he ideal user’s knowledge of the rules of his language

Performance:(语言运用.)the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.

（6）traditional grammar and modern linguistic

Traditional grammar prescriptive：tend to emphasize the importance of written word：force language into Latin-base framework.

Modern linguistic description；spoken language as primary

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

6.Design Features

It refers to the defining poperties 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