考研试题选编英语.docVIP

考研试题选编 Exercises? 1 I? Discussion questions. 1. Would you say that language is arbitrary? What would language be like if it was not arbitrary? 2. “Language is human-specific.” How would you interpret this statement? 3. What are the differences between human language and animal communication systems in terms of displacement and cultural transmission? 4. What are the basic functions of language and what are their aims? Can the sentence form always be a reliable guide to its use of a function? 5. How is language defined? Do you agree with this definition? 6. Why is it that language is still a mystery? What are the ideas and stories concerning the origin of language? II? Complete the following passage with proper words or expressions. There are five major design features of human language.(1)?? ?is a system built on(2)??? relationships . It is structured into two(3)??? with each having complex structural arrangements. Language is creative or (4)??????? . It is not (5)??? ?an immediate present context. Language is(6)?? ?transmitted. These features show that language? is human-(7)????? ?.Only human beings are capable of possessing this(8)???? system. They also indicate that human language is(9)??? ?animal communication systems or other(10)??? of communication like(11)??????? . Now with these features in the mind we can say that language is a system of(12) ???????(13)????? symbols used for(14)?????? (15) ???????.This definition is well-made, for it captures all important aspects of(16)??????? . ? Exercises?? 2 I. Discussion questions. 1. Why is it that a linguist is expected to have wide experience of different types of languages? 2.What are the main branches of modern linguistics? And what are the interdisciplinary studies of language? 3.Which one do you prefer, descriptive linguistics or prescriptive linguistics? Why? 4.What is the difference between diachronic and synchronic linguistics? 5.What are the features of American structuralism? 6. How has the TG grammar devel