第一章英语语言学引论ppt课件

1、Chapter I IntroductionvWhy study language?vWhat is language?vWhat is linguistics?Chapter I IntroductionvWhy study language vLanguagev2.1 Definitionv2.2 Originv2.3 Design featuresv2.4 Functionsv2.5 TypologyvLinguisticsv3.1 Definitionv3.2 Scopev3.3 Important distinctions1. Why study languageLanguage i

2、s an integral 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 mothe

3、r tongue so 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 culture

4、s, etc.2. Language2.1 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

5、for human communication.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.Language is systematic. Elements are combined according to rules.Language is arbitrary. A rose by any other nam

6、e would smell as sweet.言语是人类用于交际的恣意有声符号系统。言语是人类用于交际的恣意有声符号系统。2. LanguageLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.Language is basically vocal. The primary medium is sound for all languages.Language is symbolic. It is meaningless by itself.Language is human-specific

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

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

9、orical, 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 fr

10、om any animal system of communication.Design features refer to the defining properties of language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.Arbitrariness 恣意性恣意性 no natural relationship between meaning and form A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.Duality 二层性二层性 two hierar

11、chical structures of sounds and words Sounds meaningless; words meaningful2. Language2.3 Design featuresCreativity 发明性发明性 productivity, infinite use of finite means understand/produce sentences never heard before.Displacement 移位性移位性 stimulus free (genereralization and abstraction) free from barriers

12、 by separation in time and space. MORE ?Cultural transmission: more cultural than geneticInterchangeability: both a producer and a receiver2.4 FunctionsHello! Get out of my way! The earth revolves around the sun. Do you know his hobby? I hate her. How do you like Jack? I hereby declare the meeting o

13、pen. Tommy, Dear Friend Humor; chanting; puns 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.F Jakobson (1960): referential (context), emotive (addresser), poetic (message), conative (addressee), phatic (contact), meta-lingual (code)F Halliday early: instrumental, regulatory, representational, interactional, personal, heuristic and imaginative. F H

15、alliday (1994): ideational (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

16、Metalingual: to describe language itselfPerformative: 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

17、a science, it now has its own set of established theories, methods and sub-branches.datageneralizationhypothesistheoryThe flow of linguistics study3. Linguistics3.2 Scope3. Linguistics3.3 Important distinctions Descriptive vs. prescriptive: be/should be This distinction lies in prescribing how thing

18、s ought to be and describing how things are. Synchronic vs. diachronic: usually current/historical 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 language Speech is primary over writing, which in turn gives language new scope and uses. Langue vs. parole: abstr