chapter i introduction why study language? what is language? what is linguistics?
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter I Introduction
Why study language?
What is language?
What is linguistics?
Chapter I Introduction1. Why study language
2. Language
2.1 Definition
2.2 Origin
2.3 Design features
2.4 Functions
2.5 Typology
3. Linguistics
3.1 Definition
3.2 Scope
3.3 Important distinctions
1. Why study language
Language is an integral part of our life and humanity. Yet we know little or even have wrong ideas about it. Where does language come from? How? When? Why is language human-specific?
The function of language is to exchange information.
How can we say one thing but mean another?
Why can a child learn his/her mother tongue so easily?
Language has a form-meaning correspondence.
The subject of language is intriguing and useful.Language can be used as a way of finding out: How the brain works. How children learn language. Why people use different varieties of language. What the role of language is in different cultures, etc.
2. Language
2.1 Definition Different senses
Bad language Shakespeare’s language Business language The English language A student of language
Expressions Idiolect Variety Abstract system Universal properties
Definition of language as a research subjectLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols
used for human communication.Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols
used for human communication.
2. Language
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
a. Language is systematic. Elements are combined according to rules.
b. Language is arbitrary. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
语言是人类用于交际的任意有声符号系统。
2. Language
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
c. Language is basically vocal. The primary medium is sound for all languages.
d. Language is symbolic. It is meaningless by itself.
e. Language is human-specific. Bird songs and bee dances
f. Language is communicative. That is its major function.
2. Language
2.2 Origin (of speech)
The divine theory endowed by God (The Tower of Babel)
The bow-wow theory imitative of animal calls (mew, hiss)
The pooh-pooh theory instinctive cries out of emotions
(interjections) The ding-dong theory
natural resonance when struck (ding-dong, bang)
2. Language
2.2 Origin (of speech) The yo-he-ho theory
rhythmic grunts when working (heave, haul) Summary
Language originated from our experience of the external and internal world, and our contact with others. It evolves within specific historical, social and cultural contexts. Questions for discussion:
Will the day come when all languages become one? What is possibly the first language? Where do you think language came from?
2. Language
2.3 Design featuresDesign features refer to the defining properties of language that
distinguish it from any animal system of communication.Design features refer to the defining properties of language that
distinguish it from any animal system of communication.
Arbitrariness 任意性 no natural relationship between meaning
and form A rose by any other name would smell as
sweet. Duality 二层性
two hierarchical structures of sounds and words
Sounds meaningless; words meaningful
2. Language
2.3 Design features Creativity 创造性
productivity, infinite use of finite means understand/produce sentences never
heard before. Displacement 移位性
stimulus free (genereralization and abstraction)
free from barriers by separation in time and space.
MORE ? Cultural transmission: more cultural than
genetic Interchangeability: both a producer and a
receiver
2.4 Functions1. Hello!
2. Get out of my way!
3. The earth revolves around the sun.
4. Do you know his hobby?
5. I hate her.
6. How do you like Jack?
7. I hereby declare the meeting open.
8. Tommy, Dear Friend
9. Humor; chanting; puns
10.What I mean is; in other words
Phatic
Directive
Informative
Interrogative
Expressive
Evocative
Performative
Interpersonal
Recreational
Metalinguistic
2.4 Functions
Linguists talk about the FUNCTIONS of language in an abstract sense. They summarize practical functions and attempt some broad classifications.
Jakobson (1960): referential (context), emotive (addresser), poetic (message), conative (addressee), phatic (contact), meta-lingual (code)
Halliday early: instrumental, regulatory, representational, interactional, personal, heuristic and imaginative.
Halliday (1994): ideational (logical), interpersonal (social) and textual (relevant)
2. Language
2.4 Functions
Informative (ideational): to express the speaker’s
experience of the external and internal world
Interpersonal: to establish and maintain social rules
Recreational: to recreate/play with words Metalingual: to describe language itself
① Performative: to perform actions (directive)
② Emotive (expressive) : overlapped with expression of the inner experience
③ Phatic: purely social/interpersonalTextual
3. Linguistics
3.1 Definition
Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. As a science, it now has its own set of established theories, methods and sub-branches.
data
generalizati
on
hypothesis
theory
The flow of linguistics
study
3. Linguistics
3.2 Scope
3. Linguistics
3.3 Important distinctions
Descriptive vs. prescriptive: be/should be
This distinction lies in prescribing how things ought to be and describing how things are.
Synchronic vs. diachronic: usually current/historical
The former takes a fixed instant, usually the present, as its point of observation; the latter studies a language through the course of its history.
3. Linguistics
3.3 Important distinctions
Speech vs. writing: spoken/written language
Speech is primary over writing, which in turn gives language new scope and uses.
Langue vs. parole: abstract rules/concrete use
Saussure distinguished the linguistic competence of the speaker and the actual phenomena or data of linguistics (utterances) as langue and parole.
3. Linguistics
3.3 Important distinctions
Competence vs. performance: ideal knowledge /actual use
A language user’s underlying knowledge about the system of rules is called his linguistic competence. And performance refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations (Chomsky)
Traditional grammar vs. modern linguisticsapproach: Prescriptive vs. descriptiveemphasis: Writing vs. speechframework: start with / work for a universal framework