Chapter One Language
1. Define the following terms
1) discreteness 2) design features
3) arbitrariness 4) duality
5) displacement 6) cultural transmission
7) the imaginative function of language 8) the personal function of language
9) the heuristic function of language 10) language
2. Multiple Choice
Directions: In each question there are four choices. Decide which one would be the best
answer to the question or to complete the sentence best.
1) Which of the following words is entirely arbitrary?
A. tree B. crash C. typewriter D. bang
2) The function of the sentence “Water boils at 100 degrees Centigrade” is ________.
A. interrogative B. directive C. informative D. performative
3) In Chinese when someone breaks a bowl or a plate the host or the people present are
Language and Culture
I firmly believe that language and culture are familiar with everyone
on earth. Nevertheless, I don’t think everyone is clear about the real
meaning of language and culture. On this basis, this essay will explain
some basic information about language and culture, including what is
language, what is culture and the relationship between language and
culture. What’s more, quite a number of examples will be cited to help
you have a better understanding of language and culture.
Let’s begin with the concept of language. When we put a key word
“language” into the online Wikipedia(维基百科)， which is a free
encyclopedia to people all over the world, we find that language is
defined as the human capacity for acquiring and using complex system of
communications , and a language is any specific example of such a
语言学导论课外补充练习（1）
language
1. State the nature of language briefly with examples.
2. Why is it said that the language system is unique to human beings?
3. What are the characteristics of human language?
4. What are the social functions of language?
5. Do animals other than humans have their own languages?
6. Exemplify how animals communicate with each other.
7. Can language be viewed only as a system of communication? Why not?
8. How did language come into being? What is the relationship between the origin
of language and the origin of human beings?
9. Rewrite each of the following lists of words into natural order.
（1） Five /the /fresh /potatoes
（2） Pretty /American /girls /the two
（3） Airlines /brand /France-made /new /the two
（4） Fashions /Chinese /the /latest /three
（5） Beginning /hardworking /two /the /workers
The Language of Music 音乐的语言
A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes
a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great
responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long
and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor.
Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of
an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be
inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the
left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm—two entirely
different movements.
