语言学概论总结

语⾔学概论总结

Part One

★Definition of language

★ ★ ★Design features of language ★ ★Functions of language Part Two

★ Definition of linguistics ★ ★The scope of linguistics

★ ★

★ Important distinctions in linguistics

1）Which of the following is NOT a distinctive feature of human language ? (2005) A. arbitrariness 任意性

B. productivity

C. cultural transmission

D. finiteness 有限性 2）The distinction between parole ⾔语and langue 语⾔was made by _____. (2006)

A. Halliday C. Saussure 索绪尔（瑞⼠语⾔学家）

B. Chomsky 乔姆斯基（美国语⾔学家，转换⽣成语法的创始⼈）

D. Bloomfield 布洛姆菲尔德（美国语⾔学家教育家） 考点：语⾔流派的主要代表⼈物、四对概念的区分。 3）Language is a toolof communication. The symbol “high way closed ” on a high way serves _____. (2010) A. an expressive function 表达功能 B. aninformative function 信息功能 C. a performative function ⾏事/施为功能 D. a persuasive function 劝说功能

考点：语⾔的基本功能。信息功能、⼈际功能、施为功能、感情功能、寒暄功能、娱乐功能。其中最重要的是信息功能。 4）Thefunction of the sentence "A nice day, isn't it?" is ___.

A. informative

B. phatic 寒暄功能

C. directive 指⽰功能

D. performative

P7-8

Language can be generally defined as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. 语⾔是⼈类⽤来交际的任意性的有声符号体系。 1） Language is a system.Systematic ---- rule-governed 受规则制约的, elements in it are arranged according to certain rules ； can ’t be combined at will.E.g. *bkli ， *I apple eat.

2）Language is arbitrary.

Arbitrary ---- no intrinsic connection between the word and the thing it denotes 表⽰. E.g . “pen ” by any other name is the thing weuse to write with. 3）Language is symbolic 符号的in nature. Symbolic ---- words are associated with objects, actions, ideas byconvention 惯例. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet ”----by Shakespeare 4）Language is primarily vocal.

Vocal ---- the primary medium 基本媒介is sound for all languages; writing system came much later than spoken form.

5）Language is human-specific. 语⾔是⼈类特有的 Human-specific ---- different from the communication systems other forms oflife possess. E.g.bird songs, bee dance, animal cries.

1） Arbitrariness 任意性

2） Productivity/Creativity 创造性 3） Duality ⼆重性 4） Displacement 移位性

5） Cultural transmission ⽂化传递性

1） Arbitrariness

◎----No logical (motivated 有积极性的or intrinsic 固有的) connection between sounds and meanings. ◎Some compound wordsare not entirely arbitrary , e.g. type-writer, shoe-maker, air-conditioner, photocopy …

Apes [e p] gibber ['d b ].猴⼦唧唧叫 ? Roosters crow. 公鸡喔喔叫 ? Hens cluck. 母鸡咯咯嗒 ? Chicks peep. ⼩鸡唧唧唧

Bulls bellow. Cows moo.⽼⽜哞哞哞 ? Ducks quack [kw ?k].鸭⼦嘎嘎嘎 ? Cats mew. ⼩猫喵喵叫 ? Frogs croak.青蛙呱呱呱 ?Goats bleat.⼩⽺咩咩咩 ? Pigs grunt. ⼩猪呼噜噜

Mice squeak [skwik]. ⽼⿏吱吱叫 ? Dogs bark. ⼩狗汪汪叫

◎Animals make much the same sounds around the world, but each language expresses them differently. English and Chinesecows sound the same, but not in English and

Chinese!

◎The arbitrary link between a linguistic sign语⾔

符号and its meaning, however, is also conventional

符合习俗的.2) Productivity / Creativity

◎----Peculiar to是…特有的human languages，users of language can understand and produce sentences they have never heardbefore.

◎Language is resourceful资源丰富的because of its duality⼆元性and its recursiveness [ri'k?:sivnis]

递归性. We can use it to create new meanings.◎Words can be used in new ways to mean new things, and can be instantly⽴即地understood by people who have never comeacross讲得清楚明⽩that usage before.

◎The recursive nature递归性of language provides a potential to create an infinite number of sentences. For instance: ①Hebought a book which was written by a teacher who taught in a school which was known for its graduates who ...②This is the catthat killed the rat that ate the malt麦芽that lay in the house that Jack built.

3) Duality (double articulation)

Lower level----sounds (meaningless)

Higher level----meaning (larger units of meaning) ⼆层性是指拥有两层结构这种特性，上层结构的单位由底层结构的元素构成，每层都有⾃⾝的组合规则。（Lyons, 1981)E.g. b-o-o-k (meaningless segments: lower level, secondary) →Book (meaningful unit: higher level, primary) Questions:①Can youthink of some other systems with the property of duality? ②Why is this property generally assumed as central to language?③Does animal language have this property?

The secondary level sounds

(meaningless) syllables↓↓

The primary level morphemes

(meaningful) words

phrases

sentences ( etc.)

4) Displacement

----Language can be used to refer to things, which are not present (in time and space): real or imagined matters in the past,present or future, or in far-away 遥远的places. E.g. A gibbon长臂猿never utters发出 a call about something he ate last year.

◎Animal communication is normally under “immediate stimulus control”（直接刺激控制）. For instance, a warning cry of a birdinstantly announces danger. ◎Human language is stimulus-free. What we are talking about need not be triggered by any externalstimulus 刺激 in the world or any internal state.

5) Cultural transmission

◎----Language is culturally transmitted (through teaching and learning; rather than by instinct).

◎Animal call systems are genetically transmitted. All cats, gibbons and bees have systems which are almost identical to those ofall other cats, gibbons and bees. ◎The story of a wolf child