Adaptation-theory教学提纲

A d a p t a t i o n-t h e o r yAdaptation Theory1.IntroductionVerschueren’s Adaptation Theory appeared as a complete and mature theory in 1999 when his book Undersatnding Pragmatics was published. Compared with traditional views on pragmatics, Verschueren detaches pragmatics from the traditional linguistic braches, regards language use as the object of pragmatics. On his approach, “pragmatics does not constitute an additional component of a theory of language, but it offers a different perspective” (Verschueren, 2000: 2). He defines pragmatics as “a general cognitive, social and cultural perspective on linguistic phenomenon in relation to their usage in forms of behaviour (ibid:7). He takes pragmatics as a functional perspective, instead of taking it as one brach of linguistics along aside with phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.2.Linguistic choices makingUsing language must consist of the continuous making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously, for language-internal and/or language-external reasons. These choices can be situated at any level of linguistic forms: phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, and semantic (Verschueren, 2000: 55-56). Making choices is a two-way process which requires the choice both in the producing and interpreting an utterance. There are some features in the process of choice making:●Choices are indeed made at every possible level of structure which ranges fromphonetic, phonological, morphological to syntactic, lexical and semantic, etc;●Speakers do not only choose forms but also strategies;●The process of choice making may show various degrees of consciousness;●Choices are made both in producing and interpreting an utterance;● A language user has no freedom og choice between choosing and not choosing,except that at the level where he or she can decide either too use language or to remain silent;●Influenced and restricted by the social and cultural factors, choices are notequivalent for every user.3.Three key notions of language use●Variability: is the property of language which defines the range of possibilityfrom which choices can be made. It is dynamic rather than static. E.g.A: Where is Acton?B1: He died two weeks ago.B2: He has been asleep in the arms of God.B3: He went to his long home.●Negotiability: choices are not made mechanically or according to strictictrules or fixed from-function relationships, but rather on the basis of highlyflexible principles and strategies. E.g.A: How is my boy in school?B1: He must be taught right from wrong.B2: He needs to be brought back into the mainstream.●Adaptability enables human beings to make negotiable linguistic choicesfrom a variable range of possibilities in such a way as to approach points ofsatisfaction for communicative need. It is based in the previous twoproperties of language variablity and negotiability. E.g.A: How does he get along with his classmaates?B1: The student is a bully. He is quarrelsome and browbeats, frightens or hurts smaller or weaker puplils.B2: He needs help in learning to use his leadership qualities democratically.4.Four angles of adaptation●Contextual correlates of adaptability. It includes all the ingredients of thecommunicative contexts with which linguitic choices have to be interadaptable.The range goes from aspects of the physical surrounding to social relationships between speakers and hearers and the interlocutors’ state of mind.Physical worldProduction Social world interpretationMintal world●Structural objects of adaptability. The process of choice-making takes place at allpossible levels of linguistic structure that involves variability of any layer ofstructure, from sound to discourse. The language user selects linguistic structures in a wide range of linguitic realities in order to adapt to the spefic context.Richard: Can I drive you home?Elexandra: No thanks. The train is just up the street. It won’t take me long at all.Philip: She is a smart young lady, and very nice.●Dynamics concerns more the nature and development over time of therelationship between context and structure. It refers to actual processes ofadaptation in which, language use generates meaning dynamically by making use of the context-and structure-related tools. E.g.1.I hereby bequeath all my possessions to my wife. (Only after decalringthis sentence in court can the wish become effective.)2.I take Mary Alice to be my wedded wife. (in a Catholic weddingceremony and this oath can be declared void at a later time if themarriage is not consummated.)Salience. It clearly shows the status of adaptation process in people’s minds.Degree of the salience of the adaptation processes are basically a function of the operation of the reflexive awareness involved in language use. Not all choices, whether in production or interpretation, are made equally consciously orunconsciously. Some are virtually automatic and others are highly motivated.In all these four aspects, the ‘mind in society’ plays a crucial role in making evry decision. The using of labguage to express meaning is a dynamic process, in which the relationship between context and structure is influenced by the different degrees of salience. The Adaptaion Theory presents the major concptual framework for universal pragmatic phenomena.5.Adaptbility and adaptationAdaptability is the property of language which enables human beings to make negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities in such a way as to approach points of satisfaction for communicative needs. Adaptation is a dynamic process in which language producers manipulate linguistic structures to adjust to the contextual demands in accordance with their intentions so that they can succeed in achieving their overaall communicaative needs. The adaptability of language is one of the prerequisites which make the process of adaptabilty. Other prerequisites are variability and negotiability. All linguistic choices are results of linguistic adaptation, no matter it is made automatically or highly motivated. The objects to which linguistic structures adapt cover both intra-linguistic and extra-linguistic factors.。