linguistics chapter I.ppt

 Chapter 1. Introduction 1. What is language? Language can mean what a person says (e.g. bad language, expressions) the way of speaking or writing (e.g. Shakespeare’s language, Luxun’s language) a particular variety or level of speech or writing (e.g. language for special purpose, colloquial language) the abstract system underlying the totality of the speech/writing behavior of a community (e.g. Chinese language, first language) the common features of all human languages (e.g. He studies language) a tool for human communication. (social function) a set of rules. (rule-governed) Sapir’s definition (1921) “Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.” Hall’s definition (1968) Language is “the institution whereby humans communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually used oral-auditory arbitrary symbols.” Chomsky’s definition (1957) “From now on I will consider language to be a set of (finite or infinite) sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.” Language can be generally defined as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Language is a system Systematic---- rule-governed, elements in it are arranged according to certain rules; can’t be combined at will. e.g. *bkli, *I apple eat. Language is arbitrary Arbitrary---- no intrinsic connection between the word and the thing it denotes, e.g. “pen” by any other name is the thing we use to write with. Language is symbolic in nature Symbolic---- words are associated with objects, actions ideas by convention. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”----Shakespeare Language is primarily vocal Vocal---- the primary medium is sound for all languages; writing system came much later than spoken form. Language is human-specific Human-specific---- different from the communication systems other forms of life possess, e.g. bird songs, bee da