语言学个人陈述

1、精品文档申请专业：语言学 ( 当代语言学方向 )I have found great enjoyment in language learning for a number of years and mypassion for both French and German goes much further than the A-Level syllabus. I hope that the study of Modern Languages at university can help satisfy my appetitefor the particular aspects of Fren

2、ch and German that I find the most interesting.I have been fortunateenough to be able to learn about the GermanOccupation of Franceand the literature relating to this period; a topic that has interested me all themore through the studyof books such as “Le Silence de la Mer”and “Un Sac de Billes ”.In

3、 German, reading the novel “Amkuerzeren Ende der Sonnenallee ”, set in East Germany,has motivated me to research the change in dialects during the period of German Separation. I perceive my study of two science subjects at A-Level to be a differentiating feature between many others applicants to a L

4、anguages degree. Studying these subjects promotes a different approach to the same task; the kind oflogic that it encourages is certainly useful when undertaking translation exercises. The more advanced knowledge that studying them has provided me with means that becoming a translator or interpreter

5、 in the scientific field is an achievable goal.I am very fortunate to have family who live in Germany, as I am able to spenda great deal of my holidays there. During the summerI worked in a hotel for a fortnight, which was an unforgettable experience. It gave me the opportunity to be submergedinto a

6、nother culture and forced me, as it were, to speak German for the entirety of my stay. It was certainly a difficult experience, albeit a rewarding one, an experience that exposed me to a different dialect of German to the one I was used. I am, at present, looking forward to the visit of a family fri

7、end from France, whois coming to stay for three months whilst she completes her work experience at a local riding school. This will provide me with the opportunity to speak a less formal andmore conversational French, which is certainly a chance that I appreciate.Being chosen as a Prefect has given

8、me many opportunities to come into contactand help younger students in the Academy. I have been part of the Paired Reading Scheme, with which I committed a small amount of time during the week in order to help a Year 7 student become more confident with reading. This year, I will be helping students

9、to learn how to read using the Bowring Code; a system created by a teacher at the Academy which uses colours to show letter sounds. I have found using the Code a fascinating experience and seeing its effects has convinced me of its usefulness in helping people to learn to read. The Code is also a us

10、eful implement in teaching。1 欢迎下载精品文档Foreign Languages and I would hope that it is adopted on a larger scale. I was also privileged enough to be able to help a group of Year 10 Leadership and Management students improve their public speaking and debate skills. I have also worked hardto raise money t

11、he Uhuru Ministries, a charity that cares for orphaned children inKenya. This not only has meant taking part in sponsored events, but helping with the organisation of such events and wider schools events such as the Summer Fete.Progressing to become Editor of the Academy Times has, too, been a fanta

12、stic experience. It has meant that I have become well organised and has also involved me organising a team, which I find extremely rewarding, especially when one can see the finished product.In summary, I believe that my passionand enthusiasm for foreign languages giveme the potential to succeed. I

13、also believe that I have a great deal to give back to the institution that helps me to realise my linguistic potential.PERSONAL STATEMENT(语言学专业 )In connection with my application for acceptance into your Ph.D. program, I am e nclosing the following statement concerning my life, professional activiti

14、es, an d tentative future plans.I was born in Xiamen, Fujian Province in China on November 8, 1969. Later, my fa mily moved to Beijing where I grew up. I am from a family of academics. My fathe r is a professor of linguistics and Chief of the University Journal Agency of Be ijing Language and Cultur

15、e University (formerly Beijing Language Institute). My mother is a professor at the same university and teaches Chinese as a foreign la nguage. From 1991 to 1993, my mother taught Chinese at Wittenberg University, Oh io and Indiana University at Bloomington. She encouraged me to apply for admissi on

16、 to advanced programs in the U.S.I graduated from high school in 1988, and received the highest scores in my school at the National Entrance Examination for Universities. This made me an “Honor Student ”at the national level. Upon acceptance to Beijing Language and Culture University, my major becam

17、e English, with minors in linguistics, French and computer science. I was awarded consecutive scholarships for all four years in coll ege. During my college years, I became more and more interested in linguistics. My senior year was largely devoted to topics in linguistics, and my required the sis w

18、ork focused on the influence of cultural and educational factors upon the C hinese and English languages.。2 欢迎下载精品文档After college, Beijing Science & Technology University employed me. For the firs t year and a half I was assigned to a project aimed at creating improved compute r program for idiomati

19、c English-Chinese & Chinese-English translations. This pro ject proved me with considerable experience linguistics, and further improved my understanding of the subtleties of both English and Chinese.Since the project completion, I have been teaching intensive English courses at Beijing Science and

20、Technology University. Since July of 1993, I have taught Eng lish listening comprehension at Beijing Language and Culture University. The lat ter classes are part of a program that provides adult Chinese professionals with opportunity to improve their English.My interest in linguistics is initially

21、based on my desire to better comprehendthe English language, and, in the process, learn more about my own language. Chi na is now opening and engaging in ever expanding cultural and financial relation s with the English-speaking countries of the West. It has struck me, as it may h ave occurred to ma

22、ny of my compatriots that negotiations to bring about these new and improved relations sometimes break down because of mutual ignorance about each other s languages. I am aware that this has been a popular problem for stud y, among Americans engaging in business and other fields, but I am not aware

23、of any serious attempt to research this problem from a Chinese point of view.Through my work in the U.S., I would hope to contribute to a better understandin g of the problems inherent in the deep differences between the two languages.I recognize that a thesis project in most graduate schools is cho

24、sen after on ha s studied in various programs in a department and after extensive discussion wit h one s professors. Nevertheless, I would hope that investigating socio-cultural differences between English and Chinese might be considered a suitable topic. S uch a study would focus on the cultural, h

25、istorical, traditional and educational factors, which influence the two languages, and significantly contribute to pos sible misinterpretations.My long-term plan is to continue working on comparative aspects of English and C hinese linguistics. I strongly desire to work in an academic environment co

26、mbini ng teaching, research and writing.I heard that your English/Linguistics Department has a reputation for academic e xcellence. I am applying to your program because I desire the best education pos sible for my professional career.。3 欢迎下载精品文档Language and Linguistics Personal Statement语言与语言学个人陈述（

27、PS）The famous linguisticphilosopher,Benjamin Lee Whorf said Language is the best showman puts on. It is what puts us ahead of other animals. I would not be typing thisstatement without the human ability to communicate fluently and one may go so faras to say that we would not have structured society

28、at all. Such a major thing istaken for granted yet without it where would we be? So, in my opinion, language ispossibly the most important facet intrinsic to humanity.Since arrivingatsecondary school,Ihave studiedfour differentlanguages,as wellas looking at my own language in more detail. For seven

29、years, I have learnt Frenchand Latin,and forfiveyears,learntItalianas well.As a studentof Latin and modernRomance languages, I am interested greatly in language changeas well as semantics.It is exciting when I learn a new word in French and it is instantly traceable toa Latin cognate,or even better,

30、 Isuddenlyunderstand that a word I know inEnglishhas a root in another language I have studied. I find that most students of Latinare more interested in the literature,but I feel the languagehas so much tooffer.I am fascinated by the case system, and how there can be a complete disregard forregular

31、sentence structure but the meaning stays the same (a contrast to the otherlanguages I have studied, which stick piously to the base syntax.)Another learning experience which developed my interest in language was my studiesof Mandarin Chinese. This was completely new for me, as it is not rooted in La

32、tin,or indeed Greek. Because of this, it has a completely different set of linguisticrules. For example, there are no tenses, as we would definetense in a Westernlanguage. I was shocked how much importance was placed in tonality, in comparisonto French,Italianor English.I feel that itopened my eyes

33、to a new world of languagebeyond my own which was just as exciting and even more complex.Aside from learning foreign and classical languages I have also come across the joyof language through the other subjects I am taught. In philosophy I have enjoyedcritiquingthe Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis,both Nativi

34、stand Empiricistviews on languageacquisition and Ludwig Wittgensteins language games. By doing this, I have openedup to a more theoreticalsideof language, which isintriguing.As a student ofEnglishLiterature,I have found the Shakespearean and Chaucerian works the most captivating.One can do an in dep

35、th study of how language is formed, how it has changed and howit sounds (and no doubt both Chaucer and Shakespeare are great examples for studyof English)buttheseremind you ofthepower of language. InOthello , Iago dictatesthe lives of all around him with his mastery of words.I plan to take a gap year, in order to further my linguistic interests. Last yearI did some volunta