语言学第一章

新编简明英语语言学教程第2版主编—戴炜栋何兆熊这是第一章introduction的内容：language is arbitrary in the sense that there is no intrinsic connection between a linguistic symbol and what the symbol stands for.

introduction

• what is linguistics ？
  • definition
    • 1.the scientific study of language.
    • 2. linguistics studies not any particular language but it studies language in general.
    • 3.It is a scientific study because it is based on the systematic investigation of linguistic data, conducted with reference to some general theory of language structure.
  • scope
    • General linguistics
      • Phonetics
      • Phonology
      • Morphology
      • Syntax
      • Semantics
      • Pragmatics
    • Applied linguistics
    • Sociolinguistics
    • Psycholinguistics
  • distinctions
    • Prescriptive vs. descriptive
      • descriptive
        • linguistic study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use.
      • prescriptive
        • linguistic study aims to lay down rules for"correct and standard” behaviour in using language, ie. to tell people what they should say and what they should not say.
      • Modern linguistics is mostly descriptive.
    • Synchronic vs. diachronic
      • synchronic
        • The description of a language at some point of time in history.
      • diachronic
        • the description of a language as it changes through time.
      • In modern linguistics, a synchronic approach seems to enjoy priority over a diachronic one.
    • Speech and writinig
      • Speech
        • spoken language and is considered as the natural or primary medium of human language. Speech is prior to writing.
      • Writing
        • the writing system of any language is always “invented” by its users to record speech.
      • speech plays a greater role than writing in terms of the amount of information conveyed.
    • Langue and parole
      • Langue
        • the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community.
      • Parole
        • the realization of langue in actual use.
      • Saussure(in the early 20th century)
        • Sociological view
        • Langue is a Matter of social conventions
    • Competence and performance
      • competence
        • the ideal user's knowledge of the rules of his language.
      • performance
        • the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.
      • Chomsky (in the late 1950s)
        • psychological view
        • competence is a property of the mind of each individual
    • Traditional grammar and Morden linguitics
      • traditional grammar
        • prescriptive
        • the importance of written language
        • Latin-based framework
      • morden linguitics
        • descriptive
        • the importance of spoken language
        • non Latin-based framework
• What is language ？
  • Definitions
    • Language is a system. (Elements of language are combined according to rules)
    • language is arbitrary in the sense that there is no intrinsic connection between a linguistic symbol and what the symbol stands for.
    • language is vocal because the primary medium for all languages is sound.
    • Language is human-specific
  • Design features
    • Arbitrariness
      • language is arbitrary.
        • no logical connection between meanings and sounds.
      • it is not entirely arbitrary.
        • onomatopoeic words
    • Productivity
      • Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users.
        • Productivity is unique to human language.
    • Duality
      • two sets of structures or two levels.
        • basic level - sounds
          • Meaningless
        • higher level-units of meanings
          • morphemes
          • words
    • Displacement
      • free from barriers caused by
        • Time
        • Place
    • Cultural transmission
      • Language is culurally transmitted. lt is passed on from one generation to the next through teaching and learning.
  • Functions
    • Main Functions
      • descriptive function
        • convey factual information
      • expressive function
        • user's feelings, preferences, prejudices and values.
      • social function
        • establish and maintain social relations between people.
    • Basic functions
      • Emotive
        • to express attitudes, feelings and emotions
      • Conative
        • to persuade and influence others through commands and requests
      • Referential
        • to convey message and information
      • Poetic
        • to indulge in language for its own sake
      • Phatic
        • to establish communion with others
      • Metalinguistic
        • to clear up intentions and meanings
    • macrofunctions
      • ideational
        • The ideational function is to arganize the speaker's experience of the real or imaginary world.
      • interpersonal
        • establish and maintain their status in a society
      • textual
        • to organize written or spoken texts