语言学基础introduction.doc

Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 What is linguistics? 1.1.1 Definition: Linguistics is the scientific study of language. language: language in general, not any particular language, e.g. English, Chinese, Arabic, and Latin. The Scope of linguistics A）general linguistics The study of language as a whole is often called general linguistics. basic concepts: language; sentence; words theories: descriptions: models: methods applicable in any linguistic study: B) main branches of linguistics Language study focuses on Meaning and Form. i) Form: sound phonetics phonology written morphology syntax ii) Meaning: semantics pragmatics iii) introduction to the main branches 1) Phonetics The study of sounds used in linguistic communication. 2) Phonology The study of the way in which the sounds are put together and used to convey meaning in communication. 3) Morphology The study of the way in which the symbols are arranged and combined to form words . 4) Syntax The study of rules which govern the combination of words to form grammatically permissible sentences in languages. 5) Semantics: meaning in language The study of meaning is known as semantics. 6) Pragmatics: meaning in context When the study of meaning is conducted, not in isolation, but in the context of language use, it becomes another branch of linguistic study called pragmatics. C) Macrolinguistics Linguistics is not the only field concerned with language. Other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, artificial intelligence, medicine and education etc. are also preoccupied with language. 1) Sociolinguistics The study of the social aspects of language and its relation with society forms the core of the branch called sociolinguistics. 2) Psycholinguistics It relates the study of language to psychology. e.g. to study language development in children, such as the theories of language acquisition; 3) Applied linguistics a) the study of second and foreign language learning and teaching. b) the stu