英语语言学教程（胡壮麟版）
Chapter one. Invitation to Linguistic.
1.What is language?
“Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbols ud for human communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged systematically, rather than randomly. Arbitrary, in the n that there is usually no intrinsic connection between a work (like “book”) and the object it refers to. This explains and is explained by the fact that different languages have different “books”: “book” in English, “livre” in French, “shu” in Chine. It is symbolic, becau words are associated with objects, actions, ideas etc. by nothing but convention. Namely, people u the sounds or vocal forms to symbolize what they wish to refer to. It is vocal, becau sound or speech is the primary medium for all human languages. Writing systems came much later than the spoken forms. The fact that small children learn and can only learn to speak (and listen) before they write (and read) also indicates that language is primarily vocal, rather than written. The term “human” in the def
inition is meant to specify that language is human specific.
2.Design Features of Language.
“Design features” here refer to the defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human language and any system of animal communication. They are arbitrariness, duality, productivity, displacement, cultural transmission and interchangeability
(1)Arbitrariness: By “arbitrariness”, we mean there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds.
(2)Duality: The property of having two levels of structures (phonological and grammatical), units of the primary level being compod of elements of the condary level and each level having its own principles of organization.
(3)Productivity: Productivity refers to the ability to the ability to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of ntences in one’s native language, including tho that h
as never heard before, but that are appropriate to the speaking situation. The property that enables native speakers to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of utterances, including utterances that they have never previously encountered.
(4)Displacement: “Displacement”, as one of the design features of the human language, refers to the fact that one can talk about things that are not prent, as easily as he does things prent. In other words, one can refer to real and unreal things, things of the past, of the prent, of the future. Language itlf can be talked about too.
(5)Cultural transmission: This means that language is not biologically transmitted from generation to generation, but that the details of the linguistic system must be learned anew by each speaker.
(6)Interchangeability: Interchangeability means that any human being can be both a producer and a receiver of messages.
3.Functions of Language.
Language has at least ven functions: phatic, directive, Informative, interrogative, expressive, evocative and performative.
(1)Phatic function: The “phatic function” refers to language being ud for tting up a certain atmosphere or maintaining social contacts (rather than for exchanging information or ideas). Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather in English and on clothing in Chine all rve this function.
(2)Directive function: The “directive function” means that language may be ud to get the hearer to do something. Most imperative ntences perform this function, e. g., “Tell me the result when you finish.”
(3)Informative function: Language rves an “informational function” when ud to tell something, characterized by the u of declarative ntences. Informative statements are often labeled as true (truth) or fal (falhood).
(4)Interrogative function: When language is ud to obtain information, it rves an “int
errogative function”. This includes all questions that expect replies, statements, imperatives etc.
(5)Expressive function: The “expressive function” is the u of language to reveal something about the feelings or attitudes of the speaker.
(6)Evocative function: The “evocative function” is the u of language to create certain feelings in the hearer. Its aim is, for example, to amu, startle, antagonize, soothe, worry or plea.
(7)Per formative function: This means people speak to “do things” or perform actions.
4. What is linguistic?
“Linguistics” is the scientific study of language. It studies not just one language of any one society, but the language of all human beings. In short, linguistics studies the general principles whereupon all human languages are constructed and operate as systems of communication in their societies or communities.
5. Main branches of linguistics.
The study of language as a whole is often called general linguistics. But a linguist sometimes is able to deal with only one aspect of language at a time, thus the ari of various branches: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, mantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics etc.
6. Important distinctions in linguistic.
