Theories of Linguistics课件.ppt

Chapter 12Theories of Linguistics ;Functionalism;1. The functional perspective;Prague Linguistic Circle: Started by V. Mathesius (1882-1946) in 1926, with such activists as R. Jacobson (1896-1982), N. Trubetzkoy (1890-1938) and later J. Firbas (1921-2000). The Circle stood at the heart of important developments in structural linguistics and semiotics in the 1930s.;Three important points: Stressed synchronic linguistics, but not rigidly separated from diachronic studies. L is systemic in that no element of L can be satisfactorily analysed or evaluated in isolation and assessment can only be made if its relationship is established with the coexisting elements in the same language system. L is functional in that it is a tool for performing a number of essential functions or tasks for the community using it.;Prague School Phonology;Trubetzkoy’s contributions;A sentence contains a point of departure and a goal of discourse. The point of departure, called the theme, is the ground on which the speaker and the hearer meet. The goal of discourse, called the rheme, presents the very information that is to be imparted to the hearer. Movement from theme to rheme reveals the movement of the mind itself.;Therefore, the functional sentence perspective (FSP) aims to describe how information is distributed in sentences. It deals particularly with the effect of the distribution of known (given) info and new info in discourse. New info: to be transmitted to the reader or hearer. Sally stands on the table. Theme Rheme On the table stands Sally. Theme Rheme;Three levels of a sentence;Communicative dynamism (CD);He was cross. CD: The lowest degree of CD is carried by he, and the highest degree of CD is carried by cross, with the degree carried by was ranking between them.;Normally the subject carries a lower degree of CD than the verb and/or the object and/or adverbial provided either the verb or the object and/or adverbial are contextually independent. This