LanWghuyagise lcaanngbueaguesehduamsaanw-sapyecoiffifci?nding out: HWohwy tchaenbarcahinildwolerakrsn. his/her mother tongue so easily? How chanildwrensalyeaornnelathnignugabgue.t mean another? WLahnygupaegoeplheaussae fdoirffmer-emnetavnairnigetcieosrroefslpaonngdueangcee.. TWhheaftutnhcetiroonleoofflalanngguuaaggeeisistoinedxcifhfearnegneticnuflotrumreast,ioetnc..
c. Language is basically vocal. The primary medium is sound for all languages.
d. Language is symbolic. It is meaningless by itself.
e. Language is human-specific. Bird songs and bee dances
Questions for discussion:
Will the day come when all languages become one? What is possibly the first language? Where do you think language came from?
The bow-wow theory imitative of animal calls (mew, hiss)
The pooh-pooh theory instinctive cries out of emotions (interjections)
The ding-dong theory natural resonance when struck (ding-dong, bang)
b. Language is arbitrary. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
2. Language
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
Expressions Idiolect Variety Abstract system Universal properties
Definition of language as a research subject
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
Chapter I Introduction
Why study language? What is language? What is linguistics?
Chapter I Introduction
1. Why study language
2. Language
2.1 Definition
2. Language
2.3 Design features
Design features refer to the defining properties of language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.
2. Language
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.语Βιβλιοθήκη 是人类用于交际的任意有声符号系统。
a. Language is systematic. Elements are combined according to rules.
2.2 Origin 2.3 Design features 2.4 Functions 2.5 Typology
3. Linguistics
3.1 Definition 3.2 Scope 3.3 Important distinctions
1. Why study language
Language is an integral part of our life and humanity. Yet we know little or even have wrong ideas about it. TheWshuebrjeecdtooesf llaanngguuaaggeeciosmine tfrriogmu?inHgoawn?dWusheefnu?l.
2. Language
2.2 Origin (of speech)
The yo-he-yo theory rhythmic grunts when working (heave, haul)
Summary
Language originated from our experience of the external and internal world, and our contact with others. It evolves within specific historical, social and cultural contexts.
Halliday (1994): ideational (logical), interpersonal (social) and textual (relevant)
2. Language
2.4 Functions
Informative (ideational): to express the speaker’s experience of the external and internal world
Cultural transmission: more cultural than genetic Interchangeability: both a producer and a receiver
2.4 Functions
1. Hello! 2. Get out of my way! 3. The earth revolves around the sun. 4. Do you know his hobby? 5. I hate her. 6. How do you like Jack? 7. I hereby declare the meeting open. 8. Tommy, Dear Friend 9. Humor; chanting; puns 10. What I mean is; in other words
Interpersonal: to establish and maintain social rules
① Performative: to perform actions (directive) ② Emotive (expressive) : overlapped with expression of
2. Language
2.1 Definition
Different senses Bad language Shakespeare’s language Business language The English language A student of language
Jakobson (1960): referential (context), emotive (addresser), poetic (message), conative (addressee), phatic (contact), meta-lingual (code)
Halliday early: instrumental, regulatory, representational, interactional, personal, heuristic and imaginative.
2. Language
2.3 Design features
Creativity 创造性 productivity, infinite use of finite means understand/produce sentences never heard before.
Displacement 移位性 stimulus free (genereralization and abstraction) free from barriers by separation in time and space. MORE ?
The flow of linguistics
study
data
hypot hesis
theory
general ization
3. Linguistics
3.2 Scope
3. Linguistics
3.3 Important distinctions
Descriptive vs. prescriptive: be/should be This distinction lies in prescribing how things ought to be and describing how things are. Synchronic vs. diachronic: usually current/historical The former takes a fixed instant, usually the present, as its point of observation; the latter studies a language through the course of its history.