简明语言学教程第一章（课件）.ppt

Definition of language Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Language is vocal because the primary medium for all languages is sound. Writing systems came into being much later than the spoken forms. Children acquire spoken language before they can read or write. ③ Definition of language Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Language is human-specific. It is very different from the communication system other forms of life posses. ④ 1.2.2 design features of language Design features refer to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication. 识别特征指的是人类语言区别与任何动物交际系统的本质性特征。 1.2.2 design features of language Arbitrariness任意性 Productivity能产性 Duality双重性 Displacement移位性 Cultural transmission文化传承性 1. arbitrariness There is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. While language is arbitrary by nature, it is not entirely arbitrary; certain words are motivated. Onomatopoeic words Some compound words possible for language to have an unlimited source of expressions Non-arbitrary words make up only a small percentage of the vocabulary of a language. 2. productivity Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users. ---- construction and interpretation of new signals by its users; human beings can produce novel utterances whenever they want to ---- understand and produce an infinitely large number of sentences; the potential number of utterances in any human language is infinite 2. productivity Productivity is unique to human language. E.g. gibbon E.g. bee 3. duality two sets of structures/levels: enable people to talk about anything within their knowledge ----- lower level: structure of sounds, meaningless by themselves ----- higher level: sounds of language can be grouped and regrouped into a large number of units of meaning, which can be arranged and rearranged