戴炜栋英语语言学概论Chapter 1

1、Requirements for the coursenLearn some general concepts and theories of linguistics.nUse the theories to explain some language phenomena.nGuide language learning and language research.nRead related linguistic works.Contents to LearnnIntroductionnPhonology 音位学nMorphology 形态学nSyntax 句法学nSemantics 语义学n

2、Pragmatics 语用学nLanguage ChangenLanguage and SocietynLanguage and CulturenLanguage Acquisition语言习得nSecond Language AcquisitionnLanguage and BrainChapter 1 Introduction nWhat is linguistics? nwhat is language? What is linguistics? Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. I

3、t 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. General linguisticsThe scope of linguisticsphoneticsphonologymorphologysyntaxsemanticspragmaticsApplied linguisticsIn a broad sense:s

4、ociolinguisticspsycholinguisticsneurolinguisticsIn a narrow sense:language teachingThe major branches of linguistics (1)The major branches of linguistics (1)nPhonetics studies the sounds used in linguistic communication.nPhonology studies how sounds are put together and used to convey meaning in com

5、munication. (sound system)nMorphology studies how the sounds are arranged and combined to form words.The major branches of linguistics (2)The major branches of linguistics (2)nSyntax studies the rules which govern how words are combined to form grammatically permissible sentences in languages.nSeman

6、tics studies meaning conveyed by language.nPragmatics studies the meaning in the context of language use.Some important distinctions in linguisticsSome important distinctions in linguistics nprescriptive vs. descriptive (P3)nsynchronic vs. diachronic (P4)nspeech and writing (P4)nlangue and parole (P

7、4-5)ncompetence and performance (P5)ntraditional grammar and modern linguistics (P5-6)prescriptive vs. descriptivenPrescriptive study aims to lay down rules for “correct and standard” behavior in using language.nDescriptive study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use. English

8、 linguistics is a kind of descriptive linguistics.synchronic vs. diachronicnSwiss linguist: Ferdinand de Saussure 弗迪南德索绪尔 nSynchronic study studies a language at some point of time in history.nDiachronic study studies the historical development of language over a period of time. speech & writingnSpe

9、ech is prior to writing. Why?nThe writing system of any language is always “invented” by its users to record speech when the need arises.nSpeech is always the way in which every native speaker acquires his mother tongue, and writing is learned and taught later when he goes to school. langue & parole

10、nSwiss linguist Ferdinand de SaussurenLangue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community.nParole refers to the realization of langue in actual use. nLangue is abstract and relatively stable while parole is concrete and petence & performancenAmerican lingu

11、ist Noam Chomsky 诺姆乔姆斯基nCompetence is defined as the ideal users knowledge of the rules of his language.nPerformance is defined as the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication. traditional grammar & modern linguisticsnLinguistics is descriptive while traditional grammar is pr

12、escriptive. nModern linguistics regards the spoken language as primary, not the written.nModern linguistics does not force languages into a Latin-based framework. What is language? Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. 语言是一种用于人类交际的、具有任意性的语音符号体系。Language is a s

13、ystem.vWhy? The elements of language are combined according to rules.Language is arbitrary.There is no intrinsic connection between a linguistic symbol and what the symbol stands for. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo and Juliet by ShakespeareAttention: It does not imply that la

14、nguage is entirely arbitrary: certain words are motivated, such as crash, bang, rumble, etc.Language is a system of vocal symbols.nlinguistic symbols: sounds produced by human speech organs. (vocal symbols) 语言符号语言符号nvisual symbols: gestures, signal flags, and traffic lights, etc. 视觉符号nauditory symbo

15、ls: drum beats, bugle calls and whistles, etc. 听觉符号Language is vocal because the primary medium for all languages is sound.Language is human-specific.nHuman language is very different from the communication systems of any other animals.nDesign features of language: American linguist Charles Hockett

16、查尔斯霍凯特nDesign features refer to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.Design featuresnarbitrariness 任意性 (P8)nproductivity 能产性 (P9)nduality 二重性 (P9) ndisplacement 移位性 (P9)nculture transmission 文化传递 (P10)ProductivitynLanguage is creative.

17、 nProductivity is unique to human language.Duality (double-structured)nLanguage has two levels: nLower or basic level: a structure of sounds; meaningless.nHigher level: morphemes and words; grammatically-meaningful.nThe units at the higher level can be arranged and rearranged into an infinite number

18、 of sentences.DisplacementnLanguage can be used to refer to context removed from the immediate situations of the speaker. nThis property provides speakers with an opportunity to talk about a wide range of things, free from barriers caused by separation in time and place. Cultural transmissionnLangua

19、ge is culturally transmitted. nIt is passed on from one generation to the next through teaching and learning, rather than by instinct. Functions of languageThree main functions:nDescriptive functionnExpressive functionnSocial functionDescriptive functionnThe descriptive function is the function to convey factual information, which can be asserted or denied, and in some cases even verified.nE.g. China has