Linguistics
. C* ~9 y- i# @2 `5 ^ Chapter 1 Introduction: Language and Linguistics! f' `2 K) Z7 s* E1 I, L' Y1 x
l What is language?! b+ ]9 m9 d( V9 E* j3 v' }" H+ L4 a
n Different definitions of language+ E6 L, E' U; f3 ^
u Language is a system whose parts can and must be considered in their synchronic solidarity. (de Saussure, 1916)
) ]) s Q. q( ]: q. T/ n/ D u [Language is] a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements. (Chomsky, 1957)0 |9 m+ H0 |7 t7 D& q' |) S
u Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.
4 `4 w/ a4 p5 F1 s, Q) F n Each of the definitions above has pointed out some aspects of the essence of language, but all of them have left out something. We must see the multi-faceted nature of language. j& z. u* b) r; P H
n As is agreed by linguists in broad terms, language can be defined as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication./ X. ^( M& S5 U
l Features of human language9 T& p8 X" z( v/ U# ?+ \
n Creativity
5 K$ y7 K6 x* _' b; _ u u Language provides opportunities for sending messages that have never been sent before and for understanding brand new messages.% H, Q2 z6 p1 p; a3 T1 @$ Y( Y' I
u The grammar rules and the words are finite, but the sentences are infinite. Every speaker uses language creatively.
: v. Z9 H: j& ^+ x6 N6 S n Duality
- H; `$ i! H5 N" L+ E u Language contains two subsystems, one of sounds and the other of meanings.) r$ Q/ s- w7 X# v8 I5 P! A
u Certain sounds or sequences of sounds stand for certain meanings.7 l4 V& W5 B, V/ d; P; d8 \& T+ m* ?- X
u Certain meanings are conveyed by certain speech sounds or sequences of speech sounds.
* D2 `/ L L) L, K1 ]$ \0 J n Arbitrariness3 _. g' Y/ C! ^9 |+ d1 ~$ W
u The relationship between the two subsystems of language is arbitrary.
! P) V- R# Y4 }9 E u There is no logical connection between sound and meaning., ^& j3 V. ^0 i; R" n' N
n Displacement
/ k* b8 X* I h5 B+ V- U u There is no limit in time or space for language." |! B$ m! C3 c; F( `
u Language can be used to refer to things real or imagined, past, present or future.
6 ]" \# Y. a- K( ]- j n Cultural transmission
0 _2 v0 ~- j( o/ U+ q u Culture cannot be genetically transmitted. Instead, it must be learned.5 J1 f+ J' v9 E* c, o2 q$ U
u Language is a way of transmitting culture.
9 Z7 v8 ^% ^3 b7 w, R* C2 U Y0 Y n Interchangeability K# _3 e" d( p; ?
u All members of a speech community can send and receive messages.
# c! F% a6 f* Z+ S n Reflexivity3 L4 O3 r7 c, V7 T! I- D
u Human languages can be used to describe themselves.
- i) p( r, [. Q5 I* `, \ u The language used to talk about language is called meta-language.
9 ?( o7 [1 V# c" ] l Functions of language – three meta-functions
3 W4 W# _" G: L! x" b n The ideational function- K" J2 G; E/ f. X
u To identify things, to think, or to record information.( s3 y# P- B7 z/ c+ _- J! W
n The interpersonal function
7 D+ _" x8 G9 }; o u To get along in a community.
$ k. ?! t s8 D9 y' X+ k( p n The textual function
! G4 B( J3 q- C u To form a text.
3 q" h& X( R9 w [. X* J( J l Types of language: Y7 I8 X3 Y( f* [" w9 a
n Genetic classification# F3 B5 \2 X6 C. W" h& \! u
n Typological classification- |0 v; D% }1 q/ p. G, o- s6 L
u Analytic language – no inflections or formal changes, grammatical relationships are shown through word order, such as Chinese and Vietnamese; R/ _3 ]4 `0 y* X; j/ w" s
u Synthetic language – grammatical relationships are expressed by changing the internal structure of the words, typically by changing the inflectional endings, such as English and German v* b+ D0 e% C7 n
u Agglutinating language – words are built out of a long sequence of units, with each unit expressing a particular grammatical meaning, such as Japanese and Turkish |
发表于 2012-8-14 11:29:10
楼主