Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols ud for human communication。Systematic---- rule-governed, elements in it are arranged according to certain rules; can’t be combined at will.Arbitrary---- no intrinsic connection between the word and the thing it denotes, e.g. 篮球游戏“pen” by any other name is the thing we u to write with.Symbolic---- words are associated with objects, actions ideas by convention. “A ro by any other name would smell as sweet”----Shakespeare Vocal---- the primary medium is sound for all languages; writing system came much later than spoken form。Human-specific---- different from the communication systems other forms of life posss, e.g. bird songs, bee dance, animal cries.Language is human specific
Design features:兄弟一起走tho features of human language,which are thought to distinguish it from other kinds of animal communication.It includes Arbitrariness;Duality;Productivity (creativity)Interchangeability;Displacement;Specialization;Cultural transmission
Arbitary水培绿萝: No logical (motivated or intrinsic) connection between sounds “hou” uchi (Japane) mansion (French)房子 (Chine)Onomatopoeic words (which imi
tate natural sounds) are somewhat motivated ( English: rumble, crackle, bang, …. Chine: putong, shasha, dingdang… )Some compound words are not entirely arbitrary, e.g. type-writer, shoe-maker, air-conditioner, photocopy…
Duality (Double articulation)Lower level----sounds (meaningless)Higher level----meaning (larger units of meaning)the way meaningless elements of language at one level(sounds and letters)combine to form meaningful units(words)at another level.
Productivity(creativity):Peculiar to human languages，urs of language can understand and produce ntences they have never heard before, e.g. we can understand ntence like “ A red-eyed elephant is dancing on the hotel bed”, though it does not describe a common happening in the world.
Displacement: Language can be ud to refer to things, which are not prent: real or imagined matters in the past, prent or future, or in far-away places.
Language is culturally transmitted (through teaching and learning; rather than by instinc
t).Animal call systems are genetically transmitted. A Chine speaker and an English speaker are not mutually intelligible. it is pass on from one generation to the next by teaching and learning, rather than by instinct.
Specialization refers to the fact that man does not have a total physical involvement in the act of communication. Speech is a specialized activity. We u it in a detached manner. 雪白雪白的什么填词语
Interchangeability or reciprocity refers to the fact that man can both produce and receive messages, and his role as the speaker and hearer can be exchanged at ea.
Functions of languages:Language is ud for communication:Phatic function/communion;Directive function;Informative function;Interrogative function;Performative function ;Evocative function;Expressive function;Metalingual function
Phatic function/communion: language is ud to establish an atmosphere or maintain
social contact between the speaker and hearer. Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather rve this function. For example, the expressions such as How do you do?
Directive function:Language is ud to get the hearer to do something, such as orders and requests. Most imperative ntences are of this function. For example, the ntence “Clo your book and listen to me”
Iterrogative function:language is ud to ask for information from others. All questions expecting replies rve this function. What’s your idea?,However, rhetorical questions do not have the interrogative function, such as Shelly’s famous ntence 姜太公钓鱼歇后语O, Wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?.
Informative function :Language is ud to tell something, to give information, or to reason things out. Declarative ntences rve this function. For instance, the symbol “Road clod拜年语” on a road rve this function.
Expressive/emotive function :Language is ud to express attitudes, feelings and emotions. Ejaculations rve this function, such as My God! and Good heavens!.
Evocative function 清正廉洁的诗句:language is ud to create certain feelings in the hearers. Jokes, advertising, and propaganda rve this function.
Performative function :l电脑如何快速锁屏anguage is ud to do things or to perform acts. The judge’s imprisonment ntences, the president’s declaration of war or the Queen’s naming of a ship, etc.
Microlinguistics:Phonetics----speech sound (description, classification, transcription): articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics, auditory phonetics.Phonology----sound patterns of languagesMorphology----the form of wordsSyntax----the rules governing the combination of words into ntence.Semantics----the meaning of language.When the meaning of language is conducted in the context of language u----Pragmatics.
