2021年英语语言学教程(胡壮麟版)

*欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07

*欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07 英语语言学教程（胡壮麟版）

欧阳光明（2021.03.07）

Chapter one. Invitation to Linguistic.

1. What is language?

“Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human

communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged

systematically, rather than randomly. Arbitrary, in the sense that there is

usually no intrinsic connection between a work (like “book”) and the

object it refers to. This explains and is explained by the fact that different

languages have different “books”: “book” in English, “livre” in French,

“shu” in Chinese. It is symbolic, because words are associated with

objects, actions, ideas etc. by nothing but convention. Namely, people use

the sounds or vocal forms to symbolize what they wish to refer to. It is

vocal, because sound or speech is the primary medium for all human

languages. Writing systems came much later than the spoken forms. The

fact that small children learn and can only learn to speak (and listen)

before they write (and read) also indicates that language is primarily vocal,

rather than written. The term “human” in the definition is meant to specify

that language is human specific.

2. Design Features of Language.

“Design features” here refer to the defining properties of human language

that tell the difference between human language and any system of animal *欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07

*欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07 communication. They are arbitrariness, duality, productivity,

displacement, cultural transmission and interchangeability

(1) Arbitrariness: By “arbitrariness”, we mean there is no logical

connection between meanings and sounds.

(2) Duality: The property of having two levels of structures

(phonological and grammatical), units of the primary level being

composed of elements of the secondary level and each level having

its own principles of organization.

(3) Productivity: Productivity refers to the ability to the ability to

construct and understand an indefinitely large number of sentences

in one’s native language, including those that has never heard

before, but that are appropriate to the speaking situation.The

property that enables native speakers to construct and understand

an indefinitely large number of utterances, including utterances

that they have never previously encountered.

(4) Displacement: “Displacement”, as one of the design features of the

human language, refers to the fact that one can talk about things

that are not present, as easily as he does things present. In other

words, one can refer to real and unreal things, things of the past, of

the present, of the future. Language itself can be talked about too.

(5) Cultural transmission: This means that language is not biologically

transmitted from generation to generation, but that the details of the

linguistic system must be learned anew by each speaker. *欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07

*欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07 (6) Interchangeability: Interchangeability means that any human being

can be both a producer and a receiver of messages.

3. Functions of Language.

Language has at least seven functions: phatic, directive, Informative,

interrogative, expressive, evocative and performative.

(1) Phatic function: The “phatic function” refers to language being

used for setting up a certain atmosphere or maintaining social

contacts (rather than for exchanging information or ideas).

Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather in English and

on clothing in Chinese all serve this function.

(2) Directive function: The “directive function” means that language

may be used to get the hearer to do something. Most imperative

sentences perform this function, e. g., “Tell me the result when you

finish.”

(3) Informative function: Language serves an “informational function”

when used to tell something, characterized by the use of declarative

sentences. Informative statements are often labeled as true (truth)

or false (falsehood).

(4) Interrogative function: When language is used to obtain

information, it serves an “interrogative function”. This includes all

questions that expect replies, statements, imperatives etc.

(5) Expressive function: The “expressive function” is the use of

language to reveal something about the feelings or attitudes of the *欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07

*欧阳光明*创编 2021.03.07 speaker.

(6) Evocative function: The “evocative function” is the use of