语言学复习大纲 缩印.docVIP

Unit 1 language linguistic Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Properties of language: Arbitrariness: Generally there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. Duality: Or double-structured. Language consists of two sets of structures, or two levels. Lower level: sounds which are meaningless. Higher level: units of meaning by grouping or regrouping sounds. Units of meaning can be arranged into infinite number of sentences. Creativity (productivity): Peculiar to human languages, users of language can understand and produce sentences they have never heard before e.g. we can understand sentence like “ A pink elephant is dancing on the hotel bed”, though it does not describe a common happening in the world. Cultural transmission: Language is culturally transmitted. A language is taught and learned within a particular cultural background. Branches in linguistics Phonetics 语音学 Phonology音韵学 Morphology形态学 Syntax语法学 Semantics语意 Pragmatic语用 Some distinctions in linguistics Prescriptive and descriptive Prescriptive: lay down rules for correct and standard behavior in using language Descriptive: aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use Synchronic and diachronic (共时与历时) Synchronic: description of a language at some point of time in history Diachronic: the description of a language as it changes through time. Competence and performance (by American linguist N. Chomsky) Competence: the ideal user’s knowledge of the rules of his language, a speaker has internalized a set of rules about his language which enables him to use the language Performance: the actual realization of the knowledge in linguistic communication, a speaker’s performance in using his language can be imperfect Langue and parole（语言与言语）(By F. Saussure) Langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community.（语言社区） Parole refers to the real