the basic functions of language

Chapter Four From Word to Text

I. Mark the choice that best completes the statement.

of the following term does NOT mean the same as the relation of

substitutability

A. Associative relation B. Paradigmatic relation

C. Vertical relation D. Horizontal relation

2. Clauses can be used as subordinate constituents and the three basic

types of subordinate clauses are complement clauses, adjuncts clauses and

_______.

A. relative clauses B. adverbial clauses

C. coordinate clauses D. subordinate clauses

3. Names of the syntactic functions are expressed in all the following

terms EXCEPT ______.

A. subjects and objects B. objects and predicators

C. modifiers and complements D. endocentric and exocentric

4. In English, case is a special form of the noun which frequently

corresponds to a combination of perception and noun and it is realized

1 英语教学理论与实践作业

The Communicative Approach

姓名： 班级： 得分：

单元作业：Below is a summary of the basic features of Communicative Language Teaching. Using what you have

learnt, complete the summary with words or expressions. You’ll find the answer key on the site .

The emphasis in ELT is on the process of communication rather than mastery of language forms.

Objectives To be able to share thoughts, values and judgements in the target language.

Syllabus

-----------

----------- Situations we use the language in (e.g. travel, business, etc.)

__(1)___Topics_ we talk about (e.g. personal identification, shopping, etc.)

Functions we perform (e.g. describing, requesting information, expressing agreement, etc.)

__ (2)_Notions___ we express (e.g. time, frequency, duration, etc.)

Vocabulary

Grammar

Classroom

1

Unit 2 Functions of language

Overview

To further explore the nature of language, we naturally come to the question of what

language is for. This unit deepens our understanding of the basics of language by offering

refreshing ideas about language functions, which pave the way for the investigation of

language in use, language evolution, language acquisition, and other important issues in

linguistics.

Text A

Language is used for so many purposes (e.g., expressing feelings, providing information,

and conducting social talking, to name just a few) that it is difficult for us to identify

which one is its most basic (perhaps also its) original use. However, a careful

examination of what language is good/bad at today can hopefully provide some useful

clues to its basic function(s). Contrary to the mainstream assumptions, it has been

 Introducing Language

 Symbol

 Vocal

 Arbitrary

 System

 Human communication

 Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.

 II. Design Features of Language

 Arbitrariness

 Duality

 Creativity

 Displacement

 Arbitrariness

 There is no logical connection or innate relationship between forms of linguistic signs and their meaning.

 Duality

 Language has two levels of structures: sound and meaning.



 The sounds can combine with one another to form units that have meanings.

 Creativity

 The creativity of Language comes from duality and recursiveness.

 Displacement

 language can refer to contexts removed from the immediate situations of the speaker.

 Displacement means that human languages enable their users to symbolize objects, events and concepts