(1)An introduction to linguistics

ANewConciseCourseonLinguisticsforStudentsofEnglishWeek:thefirstweekDate:March22nd，2011CoursedescriptionCoursedescriptionCourseobjectivesCourseplanCourserequirementsCoursedescriptionLinguisticsisarequired(obligatory)courseforstudentswhomajorsinEnglish.CourseobjectivesTounderstandthebasicconceptsfundamentaltheoriesinlinguisticsToapplytherelevanttheoriestolearningandteachingCourseplanIntroduction(weekone)Phonology(weektwoandthree)Morphology(weekthreeandfour)Syntax(weekfiveandsix)Semantics(weeksevenandeight)Pragmatics(weeknineandten)Languageandsociety(weekeleven)Languageandculture(weektwelve)Secondlanguageacquisition(weekthirteenandfourteen)Languageandbrain(weekfifteen)CourserequirementsFullattendanceofthestudentsarerequiredActiveparticipationareexpectedAttentivereadingisessentialfordiscussion.Chapter1IntroductionWhatisLinguistics?Whatislanguage?I.Whatislinguistics?1.Thedefinitionoflinguistics2.Thescopesoflinguistics3.SomeimportantdistinctionsinLinguisticsHowdoyouunderstandthefollowingdefinition:Linguisticsisthescientificstudyoflanguage.1.ThedefinitionoflinguisticsLinguisticsisgenerallydefinedasthescientificstudyoflanguage.Scientific:data—hypotheses—moredatadataandtheoryaredialecticalcomplementationDialectical—ofcriticalanalysisofmentalprocessesWhatarethemajorbranchesoflinguistics?Whatdoeseachofthemstudy?2.Thescopes(branches)oflinguisticsTheoreticallinguisticsPhoneticsPhonologyMorphologySyntaxSemanticsPragmaticsUseoflinguisticsSociolinguisticsPsycholinguisticsAppliedlinguisticsOtherbranchesoflinguisticsTheoreticallinguisticsPhonetics—thestudyofspeechsoundsPhonology—soundpatternsoflanguagesMorphology—theformingofwordsSyntax—rulesgoverningtheformingofsentencesSemantics—themeaningoflanguagesPragmatics—thestudyofmeaningincontextUseoflinguisticsSociolinguistics—thestudyofsocialfactors(class,education,genderetc.)thataffecttheuseoflanguagePsycholinguistics—linguisticbehaviorandpsychologicalprocessesintheuseoflanguageAppliedlinguistics—theapplicationoflinguisticstheoriesandprinciplestolanguageteachingStylistics—linguisticsandliterature3.SomeimportantdistinctionsinlinguisticsHowmanypairsofimportantlinguisticconceptsaredistinguished?Whatarethey?Whatarethedifferencesbetweentraditionallinguisticsandmodernlinguistics.SomeimportantdistinctionsinlinguisticsPrescriptivevs.descriptiveSynchronicvs.diachronicSpeechandwritingLangueandparoleCompetenceandperformanceTraditionalgrammarandmodernlinguisticsSynchronicSynchronicvs.diachronicSynchronicstudy—descriptionofalanguageatsomepointoftimeinhistory(modernlinguistics)Diachronicstudy–descriptionofalanguageasitchangesthroughtime(historicaldevelopmentofalanguageoveraperiodoftime).Prescriptivevs.descriptiveDescriptive—describe/analyzethelanguagepeopleactuallyuse(modernlinguistics)Prescriptive-tolaydownrulesfor“correctorstandardbehaviorinlanguageuse(traditionalgrammar)SpeechandwritingModernlinguisticsfocusonspeechSpeech—primarymediumofhumanlanguageSpeechplaysagreaterroleineverydaycommunicationSpeechispriortowritingWritingislaterdevelopedWritingismoreorless“invented”byitsusersLangueandparole(F.deSaussure)Langue--theabstractlinguisticsystemsharedbyallmembersofaspeechcommunity.Parole—therealizationoflangueinactualuse.Saussuretakesasociologicalviewoflanguageandhisnotionoflangueisasetofconventionsandrulesusersallhavetoabideby.Competenceandperformance(N.Chomsky)Competence—theidealusers’knowledgeoftherulesofhislanguage.Performance—theactualrealizationofthisknowledgeinlinguisticcommunication.Chomskylooksatlanguagefromapsychologicalpointofviewandtohimcompetenceisapropertyofthemindofeachindividual.TraditionalgrammarandmodernlinguisticsTraditionalgrammarprescriptivewrittenemphasizedLatin-basedframeworkModernlinguisticsdescriptivespokenfocusednotnecessarilyLatin-basedframeworkII.Whatislanguage?1.Definitionoflanguage2.DesignfeaturesoflanguageWhatislanguage?PleasetranslateitintoChinese.1.DefinitionoflanguageLanguageisasystemofarbitraryvocalsymbolsusedforhumancommunication.SystemArbitrarySymbolicVocalHumanWhatisdesignfeaturesoflanguage?WhatarethefivemainfeaturesofhumanlanguagethathavebeenspecifiedbyC.Hocketttoshowitisessentiallydifferentfromanimalcommunicationsystem.2.Design(defining)featuresoflanguage(CharlesHockett)ArbitrarinessProductivityDualityDisplacementCulturaltransmissionArbitrarinessThereisnological(intrinsic,motivated)connectionbetweenmeaningsandsounds.Whileasmallpercentageofwordsarereallymotivated.Onomatopoeicwords:English:rumble,crashChinese:putong,dingdongThecompoundwords:air-conditionedProductivityorcreativityHunancanproduceandunderstandsentencestheyhaveneverheardbefore.ProductivityisuniquetohumanlanguageGibbonsdrawalltheircallsfromalimitedrepertoire,whichisrapidlyexhausted,makinganynoveltyimpossible.Beedanceisusedonlytoindicatefoodresource.Duality(doublearticulation)Lowerlevel—sounds(meaningless)Higherlevel—unitsofmeaning(words,sentencesetc.)Asmallnumberofsoundscanbegrouped