英语语言学引论.ppt

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1、Chapter I IntroductionvWhy study language?vWhat is language?vWhat is linguistics?Chapter I Introduction1.Why study language 2.Language2.1 Definition2.2 Origin2.3 Design features2.4 Functions2.5 Typology3.Linguistics3.1 Definition3.2 Scope3.3 Important distinctions1.Why study languageLanguage is an i

2、ntegral part of our life and humanity.Yet we know little or even have wrong ideas about it.Where does language come from?How?When?Why is language human-specific?The function of language is to exchange information.How can we say one thing but mean another?Why can a child learn his/her mother tongue s

3、o easily?Language has a form-meaning correspondence.The subject of language is intriguing and useful.Language can be used as a way of finding out:How the brain works.How children learn language.Why people use different varieties of language.What the role of language is in different cultures,etc.2.La

4、nguage2.1 DefinitionDifferent senses Bad languageShakespeares languageBusiness languageThe English languageA student of languageExpressionsIdiolect Variety Abstract systemUniversal propertiesDefinition of language as a research subjectLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human co

5、mmunication.Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.2.LanguageLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.a.Language is systematic.F Elements are combined according to rules.b.Language is arbitrary.F A rose by any other name would

6、 smell as sweet.语言是语言是人类人类用于用于交际的交际的任意任意有声有声符号符号系统。系统。2.LanguageLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.c.Language is basically vocal.F The primary medium is sound for all languages.d.Language is symbolic.F It is meaningless by itself.e.Language is human-specific

7、.F Bird songs and bee dancesf.Language is communicative.F That is its major function.2.Language2.2 Origin(of speech)The divine theoryF endowed by God(The Tower of Babel)The bow-wow theoryF imitative of animal calls(mew,hiss)The pooh-pooh theoryF instinctive cries out of emotions(interjections)The di

8、ng-dong theoryF natural resonance when struck(ding-dong,bang)2.Language2.2 Origin(of speech)The yo-he-yo theoryF rhythmic grunts when working(heave,haul)SummaryCLanguage originated from our experience of the external and internal world,and our contact with others.It evolves within specific historica

9、l,social and cultural contexts.Questions for discussion:Will the day come when all languages become one?What is possibly the first language?Where do you think language came from?2.Language2.3 Design featuresDesign features refer to the defining properties of language that distinguish it from any ani

10、mal system of communication.Design features refer to the defining properties of language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.Arbitrariness 任意性任意性F no natural relationship between meaning and formF A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.Duality 二层性二层性F two hierarchical

11、structures of sounds and wordsF Sounds meaningless;words meaningful2.Language2.3 Design featuresCreativity 创造性创造性F productivity,infinite use of finite meansF understand/produce sentences never heard before.Displacement 移位性移位性F stimulus free (genereralization and abstraction)F free from barriers by s

12、eparation in time and space.MORE?Cultural transmission:more cultural than geneticInterchangeability:both a producer and a receiver2.4 Functions1.Hello!2.Get out of my way!3.The earth revolves around the sun.4.Do you know his hobby?5.I hate her.6.How do you like Jack?7.I hereby declare the meeting op

13、en.8.Tommy,Dear Friend 9.Humor;chanting;puns 10.What I mean is;in other words Phatic DirectiveInformativeInterrogativeExpressiveEvocativePerformativeInterpersonalRecreationalMetalinguistic2.4 FunctionsLinguists talk about the FUNCTIONS of language in an abstract sense.They summarize practical functi

14、ons and attempt some broad classifications.FJakobson(1960):referential(context),emotive(addresser),poetic(message),conative(addressee),phatic(contact),meta-lingual(code)FHalliday early:instrumental,regulatory,representational,interactional,personal,heuristic and imaginative.FHalliday(1994):ideationa

15、l(logical),interpersonal(social)and textual(relevant)2.Language2.4 Functions Informative(ideational):to express the speakers experience of the external and internal world Interpersonal:to establish and maintain social rules Recreational:to recreate/play with words Metalingual:to describe language it

16、selfPerformative:to perform actions(directive)Emotive(expressive):overlapped with expression of the inner experiencePhatic:purely social/interpersonalTextual3.Linguistics3.1 DefinitionLinguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language.As a science,it now has its own set of establis

17、hed theories,methods and sub-branches.datageneralizationhypothesistheoryThe flow of linguistics study3.Linguistics3.2 Scope3.Linguistics3.3 Important distinctions Descriptive vs.prescriptive:be/should beF This distinction lies in prescribing how things ought to be and describing how things are.Synch

18、ronic vs.diachronic:usually current/historicalF The former takes a fixed instant,usually the present,as its point of observation;the latter studies a language through the course of its history.3.Linguistics3.3 Important distinctions Speech vs.writing:spoken/written languageF Speech is primary over w

19、riting,which in turn gives language new scope and uses.Langue vs.parole:abstract rules/concrete useF Saussure distinguished the linguistic competence of the speaker and the actual phenomena or data of linguistics(utterances)as langue and parole.3.Linguistics3.3 Important distinctions Competence vs.p

20、erformance:ideal knowledge/actual use F A language users underlying knowledge about the system of rules is called his linguistic competence.And performance refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations(Chomsky)Traditional grammar vs.modern linguisticsFapproach:Prescriptive vs.descriptiveFemphasis:Writing vs.speechFframework:start with/work for a universal framework