2010专八英语听力资料.doc

Paralinguistic features of languages Good morning, everyone. Today well continue our discussion on describing language. Last week we examined such features of language as grammar, vocabulary, the sounds of language, etc. In this lecture, well look at another important aspect of language. Perhaps some of you may wonder what is this important aspect of language. Let me tell you.?It refers to features of communication that takes place without the use of grammar and vocabulary.They are called ‘paralinguistic features of language.?These features fall into two broad categories: those that involve voice and those that involve the body. Now, the first category, is what we call vocal paralinguistic features.?Vocal features are actually tones of voice. While they are, perhaps, not central to meaning in communication in the same way as grammar or vocabulary, they may, nevertheless, convey attitude or intention in some way. Let me give you some examples. The first is?whispering, which indicates?the needs for secrecy. The second is?breathiness. This is to show?deep emotion. The third is?huskiness, which is to show?unimportants. The fourth is?nasality. This is to indicate?anxiety. The last is?extra lip-rounding, which expresses?greater intimacy,?expecially with babies, for example. So we can see that there are a number of ways of altering our tone of voice. And when we do this consciously, we do it to create different effects in communication. Now, lets come to?the second category, physical paralinguistic features,?which involves the body. In addition to convey meanings with tone of voice, we can also express our intentions through the ways in which we use our bodies. You may ask: what are the ways, then? Let me sight some brief examples. The expression on our face, the gestures we make and even proximity or way we sit, are some of the ways we send powerful messages. About how we feel, or what we mean. Let me explain some of these in more detail. First,?facial expression. Facial