[研究生入学考试]chapter 1 linguistics 课件 刘润清版本.pptVIP

语言学导论 Linguistics Grace Tan 2011.09 通常女性会先看到月亮，男性会先看到人脸。如果相反，表示你体内的异性荷尔蒙偏高哦 Many things can be interpreted in different ways. Same with language Word: Bachelor Sentence: The beauty is too hot to eat. What is language? Language is a sign . Chapter One Introduction Studying focus: What is language? Design features of language Functions of language Linguistics vs.traditional grammar Descriptive vs. prescriptive Synchronic vs. diachronic Langue vs.parole Competence vs.performance 1.1 Why Study Language? Language is such an integral part of our life and humanity that too much about it has been taken for granted. 1.2 What is Language? Language is 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. Ielv, dgo Language is arbitrary Arbitrary no intrinsic connection between the word and the thing it denotes e.g. 娘. Language is symbolic in nature Symbolicwords are associated with objects, actions and ideas by convention. eg:“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-specificdifferent from the communication systems other forms of life possess e.g. bird songs, bee dance, animal cries. 1.3 Design Features of Language Features that define our human languages What makes our language advantageous over animal “languages”? Arbitrariness Duality Creativity interchangeability Displacement specialization cultural transmission 1.3.1 Arbitrariness The forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning.—Saussure Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913), Swiss, founder of structuralism, modern linguistics, semiology. Course in General Linguistics Signifier signified referent Structural