Chapter 1. Introduction
1. What is language?
Language can mean
what a person says (e.g. bad language, expressions)
the way of speaking or writing (e.g. Shakespeare’s language, Luxun’s language)
the common features of all human languages (e.g. He studies language)
a tool for human communication. (social function) a set of rules. (rule-governed)
Hall’s definition (1968)
Language is “the institution whereby humans
communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually used oral-auditory
A Course on Linguistics for Students of English
--Cheng Zhenquan School of Foreign Studies,
The Goals for this Course
To get a scientific view on language; To understand some basic theories on linguistics; To understand the applications of the linguistic
Language is primarily vocal
Language is symbolic in nature
Symbolic---- words are associated with objects,
actions ideas by convention. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”----Shakespeare
elements.”
Language can be generally defined as
a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
Language is a system
Systematic---- rule-governed, elements in it are arranged according to certain rules; can’t be combined at will. e.g. *bkli, *I apple eat.
arbitrary symbols.”
Chomsky’s definition (1957)
“From now on I will consider language to be a
set of (finite or infinite) sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of
Language is arbitrarytion between the
word and the thing it denotes, e.g. “pen” by any
other name is the thing we use to write with.
The Requirements for this course
Class attendance Classroom discussion Fulfillment of the assignment Examination
Reference Books
戴炜栋，何兆熊，(2002)，《新编简明英语语言学教程》，上 海外语教育出版社。
胡壮麟，(2001)，《语言学教程》，北京大学出版社。
刘润清，(1995)，《西方语言学流派》，外语教学与研究出版 社。
Fromkin,V. & R. Rodman, (1998), An Introduction to Language the sixth edition, Orlando, Florida: Holt, Ranehart & Winston, Inc.
a particular variety or level of speech or writing (e.g. language for special purpose, colloquial language)
the abstract system underlying the totality of the speech/writing behavior of a community (e.g. Chinese language, first language)
theories, especially in the fields of language teaching & learning (SLA or TEFL), cross-cultural communication……; To prepare for the future research work.
Sapir’s definition (1921)
“Language is a purely human and non-instinctive
method of communicating ideas, emotions and
desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.”