Linguistics课后习题必背与答案.doc

Chapter One Introduction 4.Is modern linguistics mainly synchronic or diachronic? why Modern linguistics is mainly synchronic, focusing on the present-day language. unless the various states of a language are successfully studied, it will not be possible to describe language from a diachronic point of view. 现代语言学主要是共时性的，重点研究现代语言。除非对语言的各种状态都进行成功的研究，否则很难从历时性角度对语言进行描述。 5.For what reasons does modern linguistics give priority to speech rather than to writing? Speech is prior to writing; The writing system is invented when needed; Today there are languages which can only be spoken but not written; Speech plays a greater role than writing in daily communication; Each human being first acquires speech and then learns writing; Modern linguistics tends to pay more attention to authentic speech. 9.what are the major functions of language? Think of your own examples for illustration. The descriptive function.It is the function to convey factual information,which can be asserted or denied,and in some cases even verified,e.g.”The Sichuan earthquake is the most serious one China has ever suffered.” The expressive function,supplies information about the user’s feelings,preferences,prejudices.and values,e.g.”I will never go camping with the Simpsons again.” The social function,serves to establish and maintain social relations between people,e.g.”How can I help you, sir? Chapter Two Phonology 1.What are the two major media of communication? Of the two, which one is primary and why? Speech and writing are two major media of linguistic communication. Modern linguistics regards speech as the primary one for some reasons. From the point of view of linguistic evolution, speech is prior to writing. The writing system is to record speech. Even today, there are some tribes without writing system. From the view of children’s development, children acquire his mother tongue before they learn to write. 5.what criteria are used to classify the English vowels? The criteria used to classify Eng