TEM8语言学知识辅导讲座.doc

TEM8语言学知识辅导讲座 What is language? The generally accepted definition: Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. 2. Design features of language They refer to the quintessential characteristics of human language, which can distinguish any human language system from any non-human language system. They cover arbitrariness, duality, creativity, displacement, cultural transmission(文化传递) and interchangeability (互换性). a.Arbitrariness（任意性） b.Duality（二重性） c.Creativity（创造性） d.Displacement（移位性） 3. Six functions of language: a.Informative （信息功能） b.Interpersonal（人际功能） c.Performative（施为功能） d.Emotive （感情功能） e.Phatic communion（交感性功能） f.Recreational（娱乐性功能） g.Metalangual（元语言功能） 4. What is linguistics? Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. 5. The scope of linguistics Phonetics（语音学） Phonology（音系学） Morphology（形态学） Syntax（句法） Semantics（语义学） Pragmatics（语用学） 6 Macrolinguistics Psycholinguistics（心理语言学） Sociolinguistics（社会语言学） anthropological linguistics（人类语言学） computational linguistics（计算语言学） 7 Important distinctions in linguistics 7.1 Descriptive vs. prescriptive（描述和规定） If a linguistic study describes and analyzes the language people actually use, it is said to be descriptive; if it aims to lay down rules for “correct” behaviour, i. e., to tell people what they should say and what they should not say, it is said to be prescriptive. Modern linguistics is mostly descriptive. It differs from the linguistic study normally known as “grammar”. Early grammars were based on “high” (religious, literary) written language. They set models for language users to follow. And today, the grammar taught to learners of a language is still basically prescriptive. It tells the learner what he should say, or what is supposed to be correct usage. On the other hand, modern linguistics is mostly descriptive. Linguistic study is supposed to be scientific and objective and the task of linguists is supposed to describe the language people actually use,