语言学简明教程hapter_1.ppt

Linguistics: course description English linguistics is a basic course on the systematic explanation of the linguistic theories mainly about English language. It is a required course for students majoring in English education. Only when students learn linguistics well, can they grasp the English linguistic skills systematically, have a solid basic foundation of English teaching methodology, study English literature and practice translation well enough. In other words, linguistics is the systematic study of language. It aims to answer the basic questions of “what is language” and “how does language work”. What we are going to discuss in this course includes: -the sound of language -the lexicon and grammar of language -the meaning of language -the writing system of language -language change …… Course objectives -to introduce the basic knowledge about (mainly English) linguistics -to help students systematically understand the sounds, words, grammar, meaning of languages (especially English language) -to help students understand the relationship between language and context, language and culture, language and society etc.. Course assessment Class attendance participation (10%) A mini-paper on language linguistics (10%) Final examination (80%) Questions The use of linguistics: -Why do we usually add “im-” in front of words beginning with /p/ or /m/ and “in-” before words beginning with /t/ or /d/? -Why do we pronounce /l/ differently when it occurs in different positions of words? /li:d/, /fi:l/, /helθ/, /plei/ -Why is it possible for us to mean more than or even the opposite of what is actually said? ... ... It is a major branch of social science. Linguistics studies not just one language of any society, but the language of all human societies---language in general. Linguistics studies the general principles upon which all languages are constructed and operate as a system of communication