WeekIII：BasicKnowledgeofLanguageFunctionsandClassification.ppt

* 语言学 Linguistics 10英语本科 2012—2013学年（秋季） 任课教师：黄清贵 Importance of Language and Its Functions Definition of Language Language, Langue Parole Classifications of Language Week I II Basic Knowledge of Language: Functions and Classification When you go to a country, you must learn how to say two things: how to ask for food, and to tell a woman that you love her. Of these the second is more important, for if you tell a woman you love her she will certainly feed you. (Louis LAmour) The three-legged stool of understanding is held up by history, languages, and mathematics. Equipped with these three you can learn anything you want to learn. But if you lack any one of them you are just another ignorant peasant with dung on your boots. (Robert A. Heinlein) Questions: What’s the functions of Language? Dan Sperber Deirdre Wilson Communication is only the “curious additional use (of language)” (Sperber Wilson) Is communication the essential function of language? 1) Informative function A: 这东西很值钱罢？ B：Sure! 值不少钱，Plenty of dough。并且这东西不比书 画，买书画买了假的，一文不值，只等于Waste paper。 磁器假的，至少还可以盛菜盛饭。我有时请外国friends吃 饭，就用那个康熙窖“油底蓝五彩”大盘做salad dish，他 们都觉得古色古香，菜的味道也有点old-time。 A：张先生眼光一定好，不会买假东西。 （钱钟书，Fortress Besieged） Q: What messages does the above conversation carry and what information can we work out of it? 2) Interpersonal Function Formalness of diction “他并无中文难达的新意，需要借英文来讲；所以他说话里嵌的英文字，还比不得嘴里嵌的金牙，因为金牙不仅妆点，尚可使用，只好比牙缝里嵌的肉屑，表示饭菜吃得好，此外全无用处” both educated, at least from the code-switching behavior of B. personality of B a foolishly conceited man who cannot afford to miss any chance of lecturing people. code-switching distance Interpersonal Function sociological aspect of language use. The key to the understanding of interpersonal function of language is the words that people choose to interact with others. “老爷” “奴才”, “兄弟