语言学小总结.docVIP

Chapter 1 1.2 What is language– Defining the Object of StudyLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication (widely accepted definition) 1.4Design Features of Language 1) Arbitrariness --A theme pervading abundant work in the functionalist tradition is that language structure to a considerable degree has an iconic motivation. Roughly, this embodies the idea that the form, length, complexity, or interrelationship of elements in the concept, experience, or communicative strategy that that representation encodes. --The major works dealing with iconicity in language