In this essay, I am going to compare the chapter on Introduction by Dai Weidong et al (2010, 1-10) and the chapter on Invitations to Linguistics by Hu Zhuanglin et al (2006, 1-21). First, please look at the following table about some similarities and differences between them. And then, I’ll simple analysis of this.SimilarityDefinition of linguisticsDai Weidong defined Linguistic as the scientific study oflanguage.Hu Zhuanglin defined it as the science of language or, alternatively, as the scientific study of language. Both of them gave a brief introduction of linguistics, Dai mentioned the relationship of linguistics and language, but Hu mentioned the development of linguistics.Design features of languageDesign features refer to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication. In Dai Weidong’book, he selected five features from Charles Hockett, a American linguist who specified thirteen design features of language. Dai discussed arbitrariness, productivity or creativity, duality, displacement, and cultural transmission in his book. But Hu Zhuanglin only talked four of them in his book; he did not mention cultural transmission.Scope of linguisticsDai Weidong divided linguistics into nine parts; they are phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and applied linguistics. But Hu Zhuanglin only mentioned five parts in hisbook, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. At the same time, he proposed a definition of macrolinguistics, including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, anthropological linguistics and computational linguistics. Hu regarded the branches of macrolinguistics as an interdisciplinary research.Distinctions in linguisticsDai Weidong put forward six important distinctions in linguistics, prescriptive vs. descriptive, synchronic vs. diachronic, speech and writing, langue and parole, competence and performance, traditional grammar and modern linguistics. Hu Zhuanglin only mentioned four of them, excepted traditional grammar and modern linguistics.DifferenceDefinition of languageDai Weidong defined language as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Hu Zhuanglin defined language as a means of verbal communication. Dai proposed the definition on the basis of somemodern linguists’definitions and Hu proposed it on the basis of the explanation of language from Webster’New World Dictionary.Functions of languageIn Dai Weidong’s book, three main functions of language are mentioned, the descriptive function, the expressive function, and the social function. But in Hu Zhuanglin’s book, he mentioned seven functions of language; they are informative, interpersonal function, performative, emotion function, phatic communion, recreational function, and metalingual function. Both Dai Weidong and Hu Zhuanglin are mentioned the functions proposed by Roman Jackson and M.A.K. Halliday. Roman Jackson established a framework of language functions based on the six key elements of communications, namely: referential, poetic, emotive, conative, phatic, and metalingual function, they correspond to such communication elements as context, message, addresser, addressee, contact and code respectively. M.A.K. Halliday proposed three functions of language, the ideational, the interpersonal, and the textual.Origin of languageIn Hu Zhuanglin’s book, he had a part talked about the origin of language, but Dai Weidong did not have this part. I think this part is beneficial to readers to have a better understanding of language.In conclusion, these two books each have their own merits.Dai Weidong’s book is much simpler, but it is too simple to understanding the exact meaning of the concept for beginners. In my opinion, I prefer Hu Zhuanglin’s book.His has more basic knowledge, more details of the contents and more examples in his book. It is much easier for me to learn.友情提示：本资料代表个人观点，如有帮助请下载，谢谢您的浏览！。
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