Chapter I Introduction

Why study language?

What is language?

What is linguistics?

Chapter I Introduction1. Why study language

2. Language

2.1 Definition

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. Where does language come from? How? When? Why is language human-specific?

The function of language is to exchange information.

How can we say one thing but mean another?

Why can a child learn his/her mother tongue so easily?

Language has a form-meaning correspondence.

The subject of language is intriguing and useful.Language can be used as a way of finding out: How the brain works. How children learn language. Why people use different varieties of language. What the role of language is in different cultures, etc.

2. Language

2.1 Definition Different senses

Bad language Shakespeare’s language Business language The English language A student of language

Expressions Idiolect Variety Abstract system Universal properties

Definition of language as a research subjectLanguage is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols

used for human communication.Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols

used for human communication.

2. Language

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.

a. Language is systematic. Elements are combined according to rules.

b. Language is arbitrary. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

语言是人类用于交际的任意有声符号系统。

2. Language

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.

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

f. Language is communicative. That is its major function.

2. Language

2.2 Origin (of speech)

The divine theory endowed by God (The Tower of Babel)

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)

2. Language

2.2 Origin (of speech) The yo-he-ho 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. 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?

2. Language

2.3 Design featuresDesign features refer to the defining properties of language that

distinguish it from any animal system of communication.Design features refer to the defining properties of language that

distinguish it from any animal system of communication.

Arbitrariness 任意性 no natural relationship between meaning

and form A rose by any other name would smell as

sweet. Duality 二层性

two hierarchical structures of sounds and words

Sounds meaningless; words meaningful

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 ? Cultural transmission: more cultural than

genetic Interchangeability: both a producer and a

receiver

2.4 Functions1. 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

Phatic

Directive

Informative

Interrogative

Expressive

Evocative

Performative

Interpersonal

Recreational

Metalinguistic

2.4 Functions

Linguists talk about the FUNCTIONS of language in an abstract sense. They summarize practical functions and attempt some broad classifications.

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.

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

Interpersonal: to establish and maintain social rules

Recreational: to recreate/play with words Metalingual: to describe language itself

① Performative: to perform actions (directive)

② Emotive (expressive) : overlapped with expression of the inner experience

③ Phatic: purely social/interpersonalTextual

3. Linguistics

3.1 Definition

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. As a science, it now has its own set of established theories, methods and sub-branches.

data

generalizati

on

hypothesis

theory

The flow of linguistics

study

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.

3. Linguistics

3.3 Important distinctions

Speech vs. writing: spoken/written language

Speech is primary over writing, which in turn gives language new scope and uses.

Langue vs. parole: abstract rules/concrete use

Saussure distinguished the linguistic competence of the speaker and the actual phenomena or data of linguistics (utterances) as langue and parole.

3. Linguistics

3.3 Important distinctions

Competence vs. performance: ideal knowledge /actual use

A language user’s underlying knowledge about the system of rules is called his linguistic competence. And performance refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations (Chomsky)

Traditional grammar vs. modern linguisticsapproach: Prescriptive vs. descriptiveemphasis: Writing vs. speechframework: start with / work for a universal framework