语言学第2章

The relationship
They depend on each other. 1. General linguistics provides descriptive linguistics with a general framework in which a particular language can be analyzed and described and studied. 2. The descriptions of particular languages supply empirical evidence which may confirm or refute the models put forward by general linguists. They are complementary to each other.
Semantics can be simply defined as the study of the meaning of words, phrases and sentences.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics, a comparatively new branch of study in the area of linguistics, can be defined in various ways. In the early 1980s, when it first became common to discuss pragmatics in generalFra Baidu bibliotektextbooks on linguistics, the most common definitions of pragmatics were: meaning in use or meaning in context. Yule (1996) refers to it as “the study of intended speaker meaning”.
2.2 Linguistics: the science
The scientific method of linguistic study involves the following steps : 1) gather data concerning languages; 2) construct a tentative rule based on the data obtained; 3) examine the tentative rule against the further data and make necessary changes; 4) finalize the rule which must be able to account for all the relevant data.
2.3 Sub-branches of linguistics within the language system
Phonetics
Phonetics, the general study of the characteristics of speech sounds, is concerned with all the sounds that occur in the world’s languages.
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Chapter 2 Linguistics
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The scope of linguistics Linguistics: the science Sub-branches of linguistics within the language system Some distinctions in linguistics
2.1 The scope of linguistics
Linguistics is generally referred to as a scientific study of language. It may be a study of the structure of language, the history of language, the functions of language, etc. Linguistics deals with not only any one particular language, e.g. English, Chinese, Arabic, Latin, etc., but also language in general.
Syntax
Syntax, another sub-branch of linguistics, concentrates on how words are combined to form phrases and how phrases are combined into sentences.
Semantics
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2.1.1
1)
Lyons’ distinctions
2)
3) 4)
General linguistics and descriptive linguistics Synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguistics Theoretical and applied linguistics Microlinguistics and macrolinguistics
The two differences between general linguistics and descriptive linguistics:
1. General linguistics studies language in general (the whole human language). 2. Descriptive linguistics deals with one particular language. 3. General linguistics aims at developing a theory which describes the rules of human language in general. 4. Descriptive linguistics attempts to establish a model that describes the rules of one particular language.
Morphology
Morphology, the branch of grammar that studies the internal structure of words, and the rules by which words are formed, is generally divided into two fields: inflectional morphology and lexical or derivational morphology.
2.1.2
Wang Gang’s dichotomies
1) Specific linguistics and general linguistics 2) Descriptive linguistics and historical linguistics 3) Comparative historical linguistics and contrastive linguistics 4) Microlinguistics and macrolinguistics 5) Theoretical linguistics and applied linguistics
Phonology
Phonology, based on a theory of what every speaker of a language unconsciously knows about the sound patterns of that language, deals with whether a sound can differentiate the meanings of words and how sounds are put together and used to convey meaning in communication. It is a study of the sound system of a language.
2.4 Some distinctions in linguistics
2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.4.5 2.4.6 2.4.7 2.4.8 Langue and parole Competence and performance Synchronic and diachronic Speech and writing Linguistic behavior potential and actual linguistic behavior Syntagmatic relation and paradigmatic relation Verbal communication and nonverbal communication Traditional grammar and modern linguistics