语言学导论

2021年1月25日发(作者：驴羚)
语言学导论


一

What is Language


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

To give the briefest definition, language is a means of verbal communication.

Language
distinguishes us
from
animals
because
it
is
far
more sophisticated
than any animal communication system.

二

Design Features of Language


一）
Arbitrariness


The
widely
accepted
meaning
of
this
feature,
which
was
first
discussed
by
Saussure, refers to the fact that the forms of linguistic signs bear no natural
relationship to their meaning. For instance,
we
cannot explain
why a book is
called /buk/.

二）
Duality


It means the property of having two levels of structures, such that units of the
primary level are composed of elements of the secondary level and each of the
two levels has its own principles of organization.

三）
Creativity


By
creativity
we
mean
language
is
resourceful
because
of
its
duality
and
its
recursiveness.
One
of
the
reasons
why
language
is
actually
a
far
more
complicated entity is that we can use it to create new meanings.

四）
Displacement


Displacement
means
that
human
languages
enable
their
users
to
symbolize
objects, events and concepts, which are not present (in time and space) at the
moment
of
communication.
For
example,
we
can
refer
to
Confucious or
the
North Pole, even though the first has been dead for 2,500 years and the second
is situated far away.


练习：



1
、
Which of the following statements about language is NOT true?

A. Animals also have languages.

B. Language is a system.
C. Language is arbitrary



D. Language is symbolic.
正确答案
:

Animals also have languages.


2
、
Productivity is one of the _____ features of languages.

A. Design B. Distinctive

C. Pragmatic


D. Superasegmental
正确答案
:

design
Functions of Language


一）
Informative


It is the major role of language. The use of language to record the facts is a
prerequisite of social development.

It is also ideational function in the framework of functional grammar.

二）
Interpersonal Function


It is the most important sociological use of language, by which people establish
and maintain their status in a society.

Attached
to
the
interpersonal
function
of
language
is
its
function
of
the
expression of identity.

三）
Performative


This concept originates from the philosophical study of language presented by
Austin and Searle, whose theory now forms the backbone of pragmatics.

The performative function of language is primarily to change the social status
of
persons as in marriage ceremonies, the blessing of children and the naming of
a ship at a launching ceremony. The kind of language employed in performative
verbal acts is usually quite formal and even ritualized.

四）
Emotive Function


The emotive function of language is one of the most powerful uses of language
because it is so crucial in changing the emotional status of an audience for or
against

someone or something. e.g. God, My, Damn it ......

五）
Phatic Communion


The
term
originates
from
Malinowski's
study
of
the
function
of
language
performed
by

Trobriand
Islanders.
It
refers
to
the
social
interaction
of
language.

We all use small, seemingly meaningless expressions such as Good morning,
God bless you, Nice day to maintain a comfortable relationship between people.

六）
Recreational Function


No one will deny the use of language for the sheer joy of using it s
uch as baby's
babbling or a chanter's chanting.

七）
Metalingual Function


Our language can be used to talk about itself. For example, we can use the word


What is Linguistics?


Linguistics
is
a
branch
of
science,
which
takes
language
as
its
object
of
investigation.

Main Branches of Linguistics


一）
Phonetics


Phonetics
studies speech
sounds,
including
the
production
of
speech,
that
is
how speech sounds are actually made, transmitted and received, the sounds of
speech,
the
description
and
the
classification
of
speech
sounds,
words
and
connected speech, etc.

二）
Phonology


Phonology
studies
the
rules
governing
the
structure,
distribution
and
sequencing of speech sounds and
the shape of
syllables. It deals with the sound
systems of a language by treating phonemes as the point of departure.

三）
Morphology


Morphology is concerned with the internal organization of words. It studies the
minimal units of meaning
—
morphemes and word-formation processes.

四）
Syntax


Syntax
is
about
principles
of
forming
and
understanding
correct
English
sentences.

五）
Semantics


Semantics
examines
how
meaning
is
encoded
in
a
language.
It
is
not
only
concerned
with
meanings
of
words
as
lexical
items,
but
also
with
levels
of
language
below
the
word
and
above
it,
e.g.
meaning
of
morphemes
and
sentences.

六）
Pragmatics


Pragmatics is the study of meaning in context. In other words, it is concerned
with
the
way
language
is
used
to
communicate
rather
than
with
the
way
language is structured.


练习：



1
、
Which
branch
of
study
cannot
be
included
in
the
scope
of

B. Phonetics C. Pragmatics

D. Syntax
Lingustics
？

A. Anthropology

正确答案
:

Anthropology

2
、
______
is
the
study
of
the
relationship
between
symbols
and
their interpreter.
A. Pragmatics

B. Semantics

C. Sociolinguistics



D. Syntax
正确答案
:

Pragmatics


3
、
____ is concerned with the study of the actual use of language in
communication.
A. Pragmatics

B. Semantics

C. Sociolinguistics

D. Synchronic linguistics

正确答案
:

Pragmatics


4
、
Once
the
notion
of
_____
was
taken
into
consideration,
semantics spilled into pragmatics.
A. Content
B. Context


C. Form


D. Meaning
正确答案
:

context


5
、
_____ is the major concern of semantics.

B. Phrase structure rules C. Sentence structures D. Words
A. Meaning
正确答案
:

Meaning

Macrolinguistics


一）
Psycholinguistics


Psycholinguistics
investigates
the
interrelation
of
language
and
mind,
in
processing
and
producing
utterances
and
in
language
acquisition.
The
psychological constraints on the form of grammar
are studied. It also studies
language development in the child, biological foundations of language and the
relationship between language and cognition.

二）
Sociolinguistics


Sociolinguistics
is
the
study
of
the
characteristics
of
language
varieties,
the
characteristics
of
their
function
and
the
characteristics
of
their
speakers
as
these three constantly interact and change within a speech community.