第1章导言1.1 复习笔记【本章要点】1. The functions of language 语言的功能2. The defining features of language 语言的区别性特征3. The origin of language 语言的起源4. The acquisition of language 语言的习得【本章考点】语言的功能，语言的起源，语言的区别性特征及语言习得等。
【本章内容索引】Ⅰ. The languages of the worldⅡ. The functions of language1. Phatic2. Directive3. Informative4. Interrogative5. Expressive/Emotive6. Evocative7. Performative8. Recreational9. MetalinguisticⅢ. The defining features of language1. Arbitrariness2. Duality3. Creativity4. Displacement5. Cultural TransmissionⅣ. The origin of language1. The bow-wow theory2. The pooh-pooh theory3. The ding-dong theory4. The yo-he-ho theory5. The ta-ta theory6. The ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay theory Ⅴ. The acquisition of language1. Features of language acquisition2. Stages of language acquisition Ⅵ. Linguistics: The science of language1. Definition2. Branch3. CharacterⅠ. The languages of the world（世界上的语言）There are some 6, 800 known languages spoken in 200 countries of the world. 世界上共有6800多种语言，被200多个国家的人们所使用。
There are over 100 language families in the world.世界上共有一百多个语系。
Ⅱ. The functions of language（语言的功能）1. Phatic: Hello.寒暄功能。
例：你好。
2. Directive: Get out of my way.指令功能。
例：滚开！3. Informative: The earth revolves around the sun.信息功能。
例：地球围着太阳转。
4. Interrogative: Do you know his hobby?询问功能。
例：你知道他的爱好吗？5. Expressive/Emotive: I hate her.表达功能。
例：我讨厌她。
6. Evocative: How do you like Jack?感情功能。
例：你觉得杰克怎么样？7. Performative: I hereby declare the meeting open.施为功能。
例：我特此宣布会议开始。
8. Recreational: Funny jokes make people laugh.娱乐功能。
例：有趣的笑话使人发笑。
9. Metalinguistic：Use language to explain language itself.元语言功能。
例：用语言谈论语言本身。
Ⅲ. The defining features of language（语言的区别性特征）1. Arbitrariness（任意性）As a symbolic unit, a word has both form and meaning. As a rule, the relation between the form and the meaning, however, is arbitrary. In other words, there is no inherent connection between the form and the meaning.作为象征性符号，单词拥有形式和意义。
然而，通常形式和意义之间的关系是任意的，换言之，二者之间没有内在联系。
2. Duality（二重性）Language operates at two levels: at the lower level, language consists of a bunch of meaningless elements; at the higher level, the meaningless elements combine to form meaningful units like words.二重性是指语言拥有两层结构的属性，在底层结构，语言含有一系列无意义的音素；在上层结构，这些无意义的符号组成有意义的单位，如单词等。
3. Creativity（创造性）“Creativity”, sometimes also called “productivity”, means the property which makes possible the construction and interpretation of new symbols, i.e. of signalsthat have not been previously encountered.创造性指语言的能产性，它能够使人造出和理解许多新符号，其中很多是以前从未听过的。
4. Displacement（移位性）Language can be used to talk about what happened in the past, what is happening at present, or what will happen in the future. Also, we can use language to refer to things no matter how far away they are or whether they are present or absent.移位性是指人类语言可以让使用者在交际时用语言符号代表时间上和空间上并不可及的物体、事件和观点，超越过去、现在和将来。
5. Cultural transmission（文化传递性）Language is not genetically inherited. Passed from generation to generation, it requires some learning.语言不是靠遗传，而是通过学习代代相传的。
Natural languages have a lot in common. The common properties that all natural languages share are termed “universals”. Here are some of them: 自然语言有很多共同之处。
所有自然语言共有的共同属性被称为“普遍性”。
以下是其中一些：(1) Wherever humans exist, language exists.(2) The vocabulary of any language can be expanded to include new words for new concepts.(3) All languages change through time.(4) All grammars contain rules for the formation of words and sentences of a similar kind.(5) Similar grammatical categories (for example, nouns, verbs) are found in all languages.（1）哪里有人类，哪里就有语言。
（2）任何语言的词汇量都可以扩充，包括新概念的新词汇。
（3）所有的语言都是随着时间而变化的。
（4）所有的语法都包含类似的单词和句子的构成规则。
（5）所有语言都有相似的语法范畴（如名词、动词）。
Ⅳ. The origin of language（语言的起源）1. The bow-wow theory（“汪汪”理论）Primitive words were imitative of sounds; for example, from the barking of dogs, we created a word which meant “dog”or “bark”.语言是模仿自然的声音，例如动物的叫声，狗叫声等。
2. The pooh-pooh theory（“噗噗”理论）Language is derived from instinctive cries called forth by intense emotions.语言来源于人本能的情感声音，表达疼痛等。
3.The ding-dong theory（“叮咚”理论）Every substance has a natural resonance when struck. Possibly, when man was struck by an impression (for example, the sight of a sheep), he would emit the appropriate vocal response, that is, the word “sheep”.。