语言学基本定义

语言language

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used by social group for communication.

Arbitrariness: the forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning.

Productivity:language is resourceful because of its duality and its reclusiveness. We can use it to create new meanings.

Duality:the property of having two levels of structures, such that units of the primary level are composed of element of the secondary level and each of the two levels has its own principles of organization. Displacement:human languages enable their users to symbolize objects, events and concepts which are not present(in time and spare) at the movement of communication.

Cultural transmission:language is not genetically inherited. Passed from generation to generation, it requires some learning. It is true human are born with language capacity, but a particular language a person learns to speak is a cultural one, rather than a genetic one like the dogs’barking system.

Interchangeability:any human being can be both a producer and receiver of messages.

Language function:

informative: language is the instrument of thought, record the facts. The use of language to record the facts is a prerequisite of social development.

Interpersonal: by far the most important sociological use of language, and by which people establish and maintain their status in a society. Performative: the performative function of language is primarily to change the social status of persons

Emotive: to change the emotional status of an audience for or against someone or something.

Phatic communion: we all use such small, seemingly meaningless expressions to maintain a comfortable relationship between people without involving any factual contents.

Recreational: the recreational function of a language is often overlooked because it seems so restrictive in purpose and supposedly so limited in usefulness.

Metalingual: our language can be used to talk about itself. 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.

Important distinctions in linguistics: 规定性Prescriptive .描述性Descriptive /8.共时语言学Synchronical linguistics 7.历时语言学Diachronic linguistics /5.语言能力Competence 6.语言运用performance /9.语言langue 10.言语parole /speech, writing/ traditional grammar and modern linguistics

第二章音系学

1 Phonology

is the study of the sound patterns and sound systems of languages. It aims to discover the principles that govern the way sounds are organized in languages, and to explain the variations that occur.

2 international phonetic alphabet

A set of standard phonetic symbols in the form of a chart, designed by the international phonetic association since 1888. It has been revised from time to time to include new discoveries and changes in phonetic theory and practice.