Linguistics 语言学

1 语 言 学

第一讲

Lecture One Brief Introduction to Ling and Lang

1. Linguistics

1.1 Definition of linguistics Page 1-2

“scientific study of language”.

ling is a discipline which describes lang in all its respects (e.g. its system, its

internal structure, its social functions, its use and its historical development) and

formulates theories as to how it works.

1.2 linguistics versus traditional grammar

Traditional grammar, as a pre-20th century language description and

pre-linguistic product of research, was based upon earlier grammars of Latin or Greek,

and laid emphasis on correctness, literary excellence, the use of Latin models, and the

priority of written language

----A gram which states rules for what is considered the best or most correct usage.

The three sources from which the rules of prescriptive gram come:

1) Latin and Greek

----unchanging form of these langs

----high prestige in European education

----brilliance of classical literature.

e.g “It is I” and not “It is me”

2) the written lang

especially the works of great writers. People are told to speak as they would

write.

e.g Whom did you speak to?

3) Logic

Gram should be judged insofar as it follows the principles of logic.

e.g You shouldn’t say

“I haven’t done nothing”

I don’t know nothing about the matter. (一无所知)

Nobody hardly took notice of him. (几乎没有一个人注意他)

Features of Modern linguistics

----priority is given to spoken language;

----focus is on synchronic study of contemporary language than in the study of the

evolution of languages;

----modern linguistics is descriptive rather than prescriptive in nature;

----it is theoretically rather than pedagogically oriented.

1.3. Use of studying linguistics Page 3-4

1.4 The scope of linguistics Page 4-8

Linguistics can be classified from different angles

1) general linguistics, particular linguistics,

2) synchronic linguistics and diachronic linguistics 2 3) comparative-historical linguistics and contrastive linguistics

4) theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics (the structure/system)

5) prescriptive ling, descriptive ling

6) microlinguistics and macrolinguistics

Microlinguistics:

Phonetics ----Phonology---Morphology--Syntax---Semantics---Pragmatics

Macrolinguistics:

Sociolinguistics—Psycholinguistics—Neurolinguistics—

Anthropological linguistics---Applied linguistics---Corpus linguistics----

Discourse Analysis----Cognitive linguistics----Computational linguistics----.

Exercise

Comment on the differences between human language and animal communication,

and provide examples if you can.

第二讲

differences between human language and animal communication：

1) language has the ability to refer to things far removed in time and space.

Human frequently say things such as “My uncle went to Shanghai last week.”. In

contrast, it may be impossible for an animal to convey similar information.

2) humans have the ability to produce and understand an indefinite number of

novel utterances, but no animal can communicate creatively with another

animal.

3) learning/acquiring is much more important as a factor in human language

than in animal communication.

4) Human language structure and language use are vastly more complex than

any known animal communication system.

5) animal communication systems are closed, whereas human languages are

open-ended.

6) humans can perform acts with language.

2. Language

2.1 Definition of language (Page 8)

Tool for human communication

Means by which we express our feeling…..

Comprehensive definition

It is really just as difficult to define language as it is to define man.

人：

是一切社会关系的总和；

是唯一能把动物养成宠物和煮成食物的动物；

是一种会笑的动物；

"Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human

communication"

Wardhaugh in his "Introduction to Linguistics" (1972).

（语言是用于人类交际的、任意的、有声的符号系统）

Short as it is, this definition has captured the main features of language. 3 First of all, language is a system.

Second, language is arbitrary.

Third, language is vocal.

Fourth, language is symbolic.

Fifth, language is used for human communication and language is

human-specific.

2.2 Origine of language (page3-4)

In general, there are two contrasting viewpoints: the divinist and evolutionist

The divinists---- ----language was God’s gift to mankind

According to Christian beliefs, God gave Adam the power to name all things.

Whatever Adam called everything God created. Language is the creation of God.

Evolutionists----language is the product of human evolution. It was originated

in the process of labor.

According to the evolution theory proposed by Darwin, language is a product