语言学概论第一章

1.
2.
3.
4.
In modern linguistics, spoken language (speech) is given priority to written language (writing): Speech is historically prior to writing in any culture. Spoken language is used for a much wider range of purposes in communication. Spoken language is structurally more complex than written language. Spoken language is acquired earlier than written language.
1.7 What is Linguistics

1.7.1 Linguistics as a science: ―Linguistics may be defined as the scientific study of language‖ . — Lyons, 1968 The object of study in linguistics is language. Linguists attempt to discover the universals of human languages

The Yo-he-ho theory envisages language arising form the noises made by a group of men engaged in joint labor or effort — lifting a huge hunted game, moving a rock, etc. We do have prosodic use of rhythms in languages, but rhythmic grunts are far different from language in its present sense. The theory is again at most a speculation.
What kind of science is linguistics? Linguistics is seen as a discipline closest, among humanities, to natural sciences.


1.7.2 Branches of Linguistics: (i) general linguistics: intra-disciplinary divisions It is based on the view that language as a system is composed of three aspects: sound, structure and meaning
1.8.2 Synchronic vs. diachronic


A contribution made by Saussure is the distinction of Synchronic and Diachronic linguistic study. Synchronic –Language exists in time and changes through time. The description of a lg at some point in time. (共时语言学就是研究一种或 多种语言在其历史发展中的某一阶段的情况，即 语言状态(language state)，而不考虑这种状态究 竟如何演化而来， 又称静态语言学(static linguistics).)
1. 2.
3.
4. 5. 6. 7.
Specific functions: Informative (信息功能) Interpersonal function (人际功能) Performative (施为功能) Emotive Function (情感功能) Phatic Communication (寒暄交谈) Recreational Function (娱乐功能) Metalingual Function (元语言功能)
1.4 Functions of Language

What language is What language does Function: organic or constitutive functions of linguistic units. (1) It has been very cold recently. (2) It has been very cold this month. (3) It has been very cold during the past two weeks.

Syntactically, language can also be classified by oberving their word order in the sentence, that is whether the word order is fixed or free and what kind of order is favored: Subject, Predicate (Verb), Object — SVO, SOV, VSO, VOS,OVS, OSV.
1.8.1Descriptive vs. prescriptive


If a linguistic study describes and analyzes the lg people actually use, it is said to be descriptive. if it aims to lay down rules for ―correct‖ behaviour, i.e., to tell people what they should say and what they should not say, it is said to be prescriptive

The Bow-wow theory sees primitive language as an imitation of natural sounds, such as the cries of animals, like quack, cuckoo. Onomatopoeic words seem to be a convenient evidence for this theory. But they are very different in the degree of resemblance they express with the natural sounds. This theory lacks supportive evidence.
1.
2.
3.
Three main morphological types: Analytic (isolating) 分析型：Chinese, Vietnamese Synthetic (inflecting) 综合型：Latin, Greek, Arabics Agglutinating 粘着型：Turkish, Japanese, Swahili



Diachronic----the description of a lg as it changes through time. A diachronic study of lg is a historical study; it studies the historical development of lg over a period of time. (历时语言学集中研究语言在较长历史时期所经历 的变化，又称演化语言学（evolutionary linguistics）historical Linguistics. For example, a study of the features of the English used in Shakespeare‘s time would be a synchronic study, and a study of the changes English has undergone since then would be a diachronic study. Look at the following diagram about it.
Sound
<Phonetics <Phonology <Morphology <Syntax
Language as a system
Structure
Meaning
<Semantics <Pragmatics

ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้
(ii) Inter-disciplinary divisions
(Macrolinguistics) Psycholinguistics Sociolinguistics Anthropological linguistics Computational linguistics

The Pooh-pooh theory argues that language arose from instinctive emotional cries, expressive of pain or joy. What makes the theory problematic is that there is only a limited number of interjections in almost all languages. Besides, interjections such as Oh, Ah, Oops bear little relationship with the sound system of a language and therefore are not good evidence
1.6 Language Origin

The ‗Divine‘ origin:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.‖ (John 1:1) ―And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.‖ (Genesis, 11:6)


Modern linc study carried out in this century is mostly descriptive. Linc study is supposed to be scientific and objective and the task of linguists is supposed to describe the lg people actually use, be it ―correct‖ or not. Linguists believe that whatever occurs in the lg people use should be described and analyzed in their investigation. Modern linc is descriptive while traditional grammar is prescriptive
1. 2.
3.
4.
1.8 Important Distinctions in Linguistics

Descriptive vs. prescriptive Synchronic vs. diachronic Langue & parole Competence and performance



―Function‖ is generally used in linguistics to refer to the roles language plays in our life or in society: specific roles or general roles. Specific roles: fulfilling an individual‘s purpose of communication. (speech function) General roles: capable of describing innumerable specific functions. (metafunctions)