语言学简明教程Cha.ppt

1,General Linguistics School of Foreign Languages by Mao Yanwen,2,Targets of this course:,4. To be a qualified teacher of a language,3. To do research,2. To contribute to the development of human languages,1. To know more about language,5. To learn a language better ( for example English),6. To take the entrance exam to be a postgraduate of a language,7. To get higher marks for TEM 8,Why do we need to study linguistics?,8. ,3,Questions,1. What is the book about ? 2. Why do we study linguistics? 3. What can we do with linguistics?,4,Chapter 1 Language and Linguistics,1.1 Introduction of Linguistics 1.2 What is language? 1.3 Properties of language 1.4 Body Languages and Other Languages 1.5 Functions of Language 1.6 Some Distinctions in Linguistics (FAQ),exercises,5,It is a major branch of social science. Linguistics studies not just one language of any society, but the language of all human societies, language in general. Linguistics studies the general principles upon which all languages are constructed and operate as a system of communication in the societies in which they are used.,What is Linguistics ?,Linguistics can be defined as the scientific study of language.,1.1 Introduction of Linguistics,6,Scope of Linguistics,1. General Linguistics (in theory):,2. Macro linguistics ( Application of Linguistics),3. Other classifications of linguistics,Next,7,1. General Linguistics (in theory): Phonetics (语音学) Phonology (音系学) Morphology (形态学/词形学) Syntax (句法学) Semantics (语义学) Pragmatics (语用学) The above aspects of language forms the core of linguistics.,8,Sociolinguistics （社会语言学） Psycholinguistics （心理语言学） Corpus linguistics （语料库语言学） Computational linguistics （计算语言学) Stylistic linguistics （stylistics) (文体学/语体学） Applied linguistics (应用语言学） ,2. Macro linguistics ( Application of Linguistics),9,3. Other Classifications of Linguistics,Functional linguistics (功能语言学） Structural linguistics （结构语言学） Chomskyan linguistics （乔姆斯基语言学） Hallidayan linguistics（韩礼德语言学） ,10,Ancient (Plato), word origins & word class 15th century, universal grammar 18th century, the similarities of some languages 19th century, historical study of different languages,History of Linguistics,Pre-scientific Study,11,Scientific Study,Structure study of language (in 1916) De Saussure, the forefather of modern linguistics,Structuralism(30 years later) American linguist Bloomfield, the extreme of De Saussure,Functional linguistics England, Halliday,T-G Grammar American, Chomsky,12,1.2 What is language?,Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.,system-elements in it are arranged according to certain rules. They cannot be arranged at will.,arbitrary-there is no intrinsic(logic) connection between a sign and its meaning.,vocal-the primary medium for all languages is sound, no matter how well developed their writing systems are.,13,symbols-words are just the symbols associated with objects, actions, ideas by convention.,human-specific-human beings have different kinds of brains and vocal capacity. “Language Acquisition Device”(LAD),14,Time for Break,15,Arbitrariness（任意性） Duality（双重性） Productivity （创造性） Cultural transmission （文化传递性）,1.3 Properties of language 语言的结构特征 (Design features),next,back,16,1. Arbitrariness-the form of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning. The link between them is a matter of convention E.g. “house” uchi (Japanese) Mansion (French) 房子(Chinese) conventionality-It means that in any language there are certain sequences of sounds that have a conventionally accepted meaning. Those words are customarily used by all speakers with the same intended meaning and understood by all listeners in the same way.,17,2. Duality-language is a system which consists of two sets of structures, or two levels, and each of the two levels has its own principles of organization. Primary level-words which are meaningful Secondary level-sounds which are meaningless, but can be grouped and regrouped into words. This is the most economical feature of language.,18,3. Productivity (creativity)- language is resourceful. It makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users.,19,4. Cultural transmission Language is passed on from one generation to the next through teaching and learning rather than by instinct.,15,4,20,Review: 1. What is linguistics? 2. What is language? 3. What are the design features of language? (or properties of language) 4. In theory, how can linguistics be classified? 5. Who is the forefather of modern linguistics? 6. What is Halliday famous for? 7. What is Chomsky famous for?,21,Examples: Brisk, erect walk Hand to cheek Tapping or drumming fingers Tilted head Biting nails ,1.4 Body Languages and Other “Languages”,Qs: 1）What is body language? Can you name some kind of body language? 2）Is it language? Why or why not?,Confidence,thinking,Impatience,Interest,Insecurity, nervousness,22,According to Halliday(2003), there are three broad functions of language: Ideational function（概念功能） Interpersonal function （人际功能） Textual function（语篇功能）,1.5 Functions of Language,23,1.6 Some Distinctions in Linguistics (FAQ) (1) Description vs. Prescription (2) Synchronic vs. Diachronic (3) Speech vs. Writing (4) Langue vs. Parole (by Saussure) (5) Competence vs. Performance (by Chomsky) (6) Modern linguistics vs. Traditional grammar,24,Descriptive vs. prescriptive “描写式”和 “规定式” They represent two different types of linguistic study. If a linguistic study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use, it is said to be descriptive; if the linguistic study aims to lay down rules for “correct and standard” behavior in using language, i. e. to tell people what they should say and what they should not say, it is said to be prescriptive. ,25,Synchronic vs. diachronic “共时”和 “历时” The description of a language at some point of time in history is a synchronic study; the description of language as it changes through time is a diachronic study. A diachronic study is a historical study; it studies the historical development of language over a period of time. ,26,Speech - primary medium of language Writing - later developed ,Speech & Writing,27,langue & parole “语言” 和 “言语” The distinction was made by the Swiss linguist Saussure in the early 20th century. Langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of a speech community. Parole refers to the realization of language in actual use. As a social product, language can be thought of as the generalized rules of the language. Parole, on the other hand, is the concrete use or application of the rules. ,28,The distinction is discussed by the American linguist N. Chomsky in the late 1950s. Competence-the ideal users knowledge of the rules of his language. Performance-the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.,Both Saussure and Chomsky make the distinction between the abstract language system and the actual use of language. Their purpose is to single out the language system for serious study.,Competence and performance 语言能力和语言运用,29,Modern linguistics is descriptive, which means its investigations are based on authentic, and mainly spoken language data. Modern linguistics mainly describes and analyses the facts of language. Traditional grammar is prescriptive; it is based on “high” written language. It tries to lay down rules for “correct” or standard language behavior. Modern linguistics is mainly synchronic, focusing on the present-day language. Unless the various states of a language are successfully studied, it will not be possible to describe language from a diachronic point of view.,What do you think modern linguistics is?,Modern Linguistics is descriptive & synchronic.,30,Review: Strictly speaking, is body language a language? Why or why not? According to Halliday, what are the broad functions of language? Who makes the distinction between langue and parole? Who makes the distinction between competence and performance?,31,Exercises: True or false: Linguistics studies one specific language.( ) Modern linguistics is mostly descriptive because it sets rules for language users to follow. ( ) Language is arbitrary by nature but it is not entirely arbitrary. ( ) Language is non-instinctive. ( ) Fill in the blanks: Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of _. Language is a system of _ _ _ used for human communication. If a linguistic study describes and analyses the language people actually use, it is said to be _. If it aims to lay down rules for correct behavior it is said to be _. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”.