1 单元 Language

文旭的《语言学导论》；刘润清的《语言学教程》；西南大学英语语言学

Introduction

• L
  • 定义：a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
    • system
      • 定义：clements in it are not arranged and combined randomly, but according to some rules and principles
    • arbitrary
      • 定义: there is no instrinsic connection between the word and the thing
    • vocal
      • 定义: the primary medium for all language is sound
    • human communication
      • 定义：Lg is human-specific, which differs greatly from the system of animal communication
    • Symbols
      • 定义：Lg is meaningless by itself
  • 特征
    • 1. arbitrariness 任意性
      • Saussure
      • 定义：there is no logical or instrinsic connection between the word and the thing their relationship is accidental
      • 解释/原因
        • a given thing can be signified differently in different language. Even a single language have several signs can represent the same entity
      • Signified vs signifier
        • 关系: The things signified and the words used to signify them
    • 2. cultural transmission 文化交换
      • 定义：Language is culturally transmitted and can't be transmintted through heredity.
      • 例子：A Chinese baby born and brought up in New York by an English family will speak English while an English child, brought up in Beijing by a Chinese family, will speak Chinese.
    • 3. displacement 替换性/移位
      • 定义：Language allows people to talk about things remote in time or space even about hypothetical and non-existent state of affairs
    • 4. productivity 创造性/多产性
      • 定义：a man's linguistic ability which enables him to produce and understand an infinitely large number of sentences in our native language
      • Why? 的解答方法
        • 定义+human specific+duality+recursiveness
          • recursiveness定义: words that can be used in new ways to mean new things and can be understood by the people who have never come across the word before.
    • 5. duality 二元性
      • 定义: Lg has at least two levels of structure. minimal meaningless units are combined into larger and meaningful units. The other is that minimal meaningful units can be combined into longer, more complex expressions.
    • 6. Specialization 专门化
      • 定义：A man who does not have a total physical involvement in the act of communication.
    • 7. Interchangeability 可交换性
      • 定义：A man who can both produce and receive messages, and his role as a speaker or hearer can be exchanged at ease.
  • 功能
    • The primary function is to transmit information and to convey commands, feeling. Lg is a tool of communication.
      • phatic function 交际功能
        • 定义: lg is used to establish an atmosphere or maintain social contact
      • directive function 指示功能
        • 定义：get the hearer to do something
      • informative function 信息功能
        • 定义：used to tell something and give information
      • interrogative function 询问功能
        • 定义：obtain information from others
      • evocative function 共鸣功能
        • 定义：create certain feelings in the hearers
      • expressive function 表达功能
        • 定义: reveal the speaker's attitudes and feelings
      • performative function 施为功能
        • 定义：to do things or to perform things