语言的定义、结构特征、功能;人类语言与动物语言或其他人工符号系统的区别。要求能准确区分和辨别某实例为哪种语言特征或哪种语言功能,并且能够准确、简洁、清晰地举例说明。
(1)语言学的定义,现代语言学与传统语法学研究的三个显著区别。
(2)语言学研究的四个原则及其简要说明。语言学中五组重要区别,每组两个概念的含义、区分及其意义。
(3)普通语言学的主要分支学科及其各自的研究范畴。
(4)宏观语言学及应用语言学的主要分支及各自的研究范畴。
The key points are: the definition of language, the design features and the functions of language, the distinction between human language and animal communication or other artificial sign systems.Students should be able to identify and distinguish different design features and functions of language and give examples to clarify them.
(1)the definition of linguistics and the three major distinc-tions of modern linguistics from the traditional grammar
(2)the 4 principles of linguistic study and brief explanations, of them the 5 pairs of distinctions in linguistics and the conceptual applications, differences and meanings in pairs
(3)the major branches in general linguistics and the scope of study respectively
(4)the major branches of macrolinguistics and applied linguistics and the scope of study respectively
本章介绍语言以及语言学的基本知识,包括:一、语言的定义,语言的本质特征、起源和功能;二、语言学的定义、主要内部分支及外部分支,语言学中的一些重要区别。
1)语言的定义
语言是人类用以口头交流的任意的符号系统。该定义有五个要点,即人类、口头、任意、符号、系统。
2)语言的本质特征
语言的本质特征指人类语言区别于任何其他动物交流系统的特点。主要包括:
(1)任意性:任意性是语言的核心特征,指符号的形式或声音与意义间没有理据或逻辑关系。任意性有不同的程度。
(2)二重性:二重性指底层有限的语音结构是上层词、句和语篇结构的组成成分,每层都有自身的组合规则,使语言拥有强大的能产性。
(3)创造性:创造性指语言的能产性,人们能用语言创造新的意义,并立即被从未接触过它的人所理解。创造性归因于语言的二重性和递归性。
(4)移位性:人类语言可以让使用者表达说话时(时间和处所)并不存在的物体、事件和观点。这一特性赋予人们概括和抽象的能力。
(5)文化传递性:语言不是靠遗传,而是通过教与学,由人们接触的文化代代传递的。
(6)互换性:互换性指人可以是信息的发出者,也可以是信息的接收者。
3)语言的起源
有“汪汪”理论、“噗噗”理论、“哟-嗬-哟”理论,但是到目前为止,相关理论都是无果的探求。
4)语言的功能
(1)信息功能被认为是语言最主要的功能。
(2)人际功能是语言最重要的社会功能。人们通过它建立和维持在社会中的身份和地位。
(3)施为功能主要改变人物的社会地位,使用的语言非常正式,有时甚至成为一种礼节。
(4)感情功能用以改变听者的感情。它又可当成表达功能,但表达功能还包括自言自语。
(5)客气/寒暄功能,指有助于说明、维持人际关系的表达。
(6)娱乐功能,如婴儿的咿呀学语、歌者的吟唱、对歌等。
(7)元语言功能,指可以用语言来讨论语言本身。
1)定义
语言学是对语言的科学研究,它研究在各自社会中作为交流系统的各种人类语言的基本原理。语言学研究必须遵循的科学原则为:穷尽性、一致性、简洁性、客观性。
2)微观语言学(主要内部分支)
至少6个:语音学(又可分为声学语音学、听觉语音学、发音语音学)、音系学、形态学、句法学、语义学、语用学。
3)宏观语言学(主要外部分支/语言的跨学科研究)
心理语言学、社会语言学、人类语言学、计算语言学等等。
4)语言学中的重要区别
(1)描写式和规范式;
(2)共时和历时;
(3)语言和言语;
(4)语言能力和语言应用。
This chapter deals with two types of knowledge in this field (the subject of the study: languages, and the branch of the study: linguistics), including:
First, the definition of language: what language is, its design features, origin and functions.Second, the definition of linguistics: what linguistics is, the branches of internal linguistics and external linguistics, as well as some major distinctions in linguistics.
1) What is language?
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.The five important points in this definition are: human, vocal, arbitrary, symbols, system.
2) The design features of language
The design features refer to the defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human language and any other systems of animal communication.They are:
(1)arbitrariness: Arbitrariness is the core feature of language, which means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds.Arbitrariness is a matter of degree.
(2)duality: Duality of structure refers to the fact that in all languages so far investigated, one finds two levels of structure or patterning.At the first, higher level, language is analyzed in terms of combinations of meaningful units (such as morphemes, words, etc.); at the second, lower level, it is seen as a sequence of segments which lack a meaning in themselves, but which combine to form units of meanings.
(3)productivity: Productivity refers to the feature one is able to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of sentences in his native language, including those that one has never heard before.Productivity is contributed to the duality and recursiveness of language.
(4)displacement: Displacement refers to the fact that one can talk about things that are not present, as easily as he does at present.In other words, one can refer to real and unreal things, things in the past, at present, or in future.The feature of displacement enables people to abstract or generalize their ideas.
(5)cultural transmission: Language is not biologically transmitted from generation to generation.The details of the linguistic system must be learned by each speaker.
(6)interchangeability: Interchangeability means that any human being can be both a producer and a receiver of messages.
3) Origin of language
There are the bow-wow theory, pooh-pooh theory and “yo-he-ho” theory and so on but up to now all the theories related to the origin of language remain unestablished.
4) Functions of language
(1)The informative function is regarded as the most important function of language.
(2)The interpersonal function is the most important sociological use of language by which people establish and maintain their status in a society.
(3)The performative function is primarily to change the social status of persons, as in marriage ceremonies.The language used is quite formal and even ritualized.
(4)The emotive function changes the emotional status of an audience for or against someone or something.It is similar to expressive function but the latter can be totally without any implication of communication to others.
(5)The phatic communion enables people to maintain a comfortable relationship without involving any factual content.
(6)The recreational function refers to the use of language for the sheer joy of using it, such as a baby's babbling or a chanter's chanting.
(7)The metalingual function means that we use language to talk about language.
1) What is linguistics?
Linguistics is the scientific study of language.It studies not any particular language, but is based on the systematic investigation of linguistic data, conducted with reference to general theory of language structure.The four principles that make linguistics a science are exhaustiveness, consistency, economy and objectivity.
2) Branches of microlinguistics (internal linguistics)
There are at least six branches: phonetics (including articulatory phonetics, auditory phonetics, and acoustic phonetics), phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics.
3) Branches of macrolinguistics (external linguistics)
The branches of study which relate linguistics to the research of other areas are macrolinguistics, such as, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, anthropological linguistics, computational linguistics, and so on.
4) Major distinctions in linguistics
(1)descriptive vs.prescriptive
(2)synchronic vs.diachronic
(3)langue vs.parole
(4)competence vs.performance