Chapter_1词汇学.ppt

1、Chapter 1,Language, Linguistics and Lexicology,1-1-1: A Definition of Language,What is language?,Spir, an American linguist, wrote in 1921: “Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols”. But the famous Am

2、erican linguist, Chomsky, gave a different definition when he wrote Syntactic Structure in 1957: “from now on I will consider a language to be a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.”,Many linguists have agreed to accept the vie

3、w that language is, in essence, a system of symbols designed for the purpose of human communication. A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which the members of a speech community communicate, interact, and transmit their culture. The systematic, conventional use of sounds, si

4、gns, or written symbols in a human society for communication and self-expression.,The attributes:,Language system vocal arbitrary a human activity non-instinctive a social activity related to culture changes,For discussion and review:,1. How many languages are there in the world? (more than 5,000) 2

5、. What is language? 3. How does human language differ from animal noises? (whale, dolphin, gorillaman-sized, fierce, tree-climbing ape) 4. What distinguishes man as “the talking animal”? Why? 5. Why is it misleading to compare the use of language with the ability to eat, sleep and walk ? (instinctiv

6、e),1-1-2: Language, Society and Thought,What is the relation between language, society and thought?,Language A mirror A product A means of communication The cement of society Connected with mans productive activity Grows and develops with that of a society Dies when society disappears Expresses mans

7、 thought,1-2-1: A Definition of Linguistics,Linguistics may be defined as the systematic or scientific study of language. Linguistics tries to answer the basic questions “What is language?” “How does it work?” “What happens when a speaker says something and a hearer understands him?” Encoded semantically, grammatically, and phonologicallydecoded phonologically, grammatically, and semantically. The discipline that studies the nature and use of language.,1-2-2: The Scope of Linguistics,Traditional classifications: Linguistics phonetic