英语语言学常见名词解释 Linguistics 自考语言学,考研专业课必备精选.docVIP

英语语言学常见名词解释 1. What is language? “Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged systematically, rather than randomly. Arbitrary, in the sense that there is usually no intrinsic connection between a work (like ―book‖) and the object it refers to. This explains and is explained by the fact that different languages have different ―books‖: ―book‖ in English, ―livre‖ in French, ―shu‖ in Chinese. It is symbolic, because words are associated with objects, actions, ideas etc. by nothing but convention. Namely, pe