describe and analyze of the actual using language.
syntronic vs diachronic
synchronic
at some point of time
diachronic
change through time
speech vs writing
speech
primary medium of human language
writing
secondary to speech and record to speech
langue vs parole
langue
abstract linguistic system，stable
parole
realization of langue in actual use，varied
competence vs perfomance
competence
the ideal user's knowledge of the rules
perfomance
the actual realization of this knowledge
traditional grammar vs moderm linguistics
language
definition
a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human community
feature
Arbitrariness 任意性：
no logical connection between meanings and sounds, the forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning logical connection between sounds and meaning
Productivity/Creativity 创造性
Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users. infinite
Duality/ Double articulation 二重性
Language is a system, which consists of two sets of structures, or two levels.
1.a structure of sounds, which are meaningless themselves
2.units of meaning morphemes(词素) and words
Displacement 移位性
temporal spacial
Cultural transmission 文化传递性
While human capacity for language has a genetic basis
functions
The ideational function
to organize the speaker or writer 's experience of the real or imaginary world
The interpersonal function
to indicate, establish or maintain social relationships between people
The textual function
to organize written or spoken texts in such a manner that they are coherent within themselves
