General Linguistics ntroduction 楚军外国语学院
Introduction 楚军 外国语学院 General Linguistics
Introduction to Linguistics A birds'-eye view of the fields of linguistic studies: a.the core branches: phonetics,phonology; morphology,lexicology; grammar/syntax; semantics
Introduction to Linguistics A birds’-eye view of the fields of linguistic studies: a. the core branches: phonetics, phonology; morphology, lexicology; grammar/ syntax; semantics
Introduction to Linguistics b.the peripheral or inter-disciplines: language as behavior: pragmatics,sociolinguistics; language as knowledge: language universals,psycholinguistics; language as system: history of language(besides the core branches) language as art: literary studies,stylistics
Introduction to Linguistics b. the peripheral or inter-disciplines: language as behavior: pragmatics, sociolinguistics; language as knowledge: language universals, psycholinguistics; language as system: history of language (besides the core branches) language as art: literary studies, stylistics
Introduction to Linguistics Other branches: language philosophy, neurolinguistics, computational linguistics applied linguistics (L1/L2 acquisition /learning language teaching),etc
Introduction to Linguistics Other branches: language philosophy, neurolinguistics, computational linguistics, applied linguistics (L1/L2 acquisition /learning, language teaching), etc
Introduction to Linguistics 2.Defining linguistics and language: (1)What is linguistics? --a scientific study of language. (2)What is language? language involves three activities: neural activity in the human brain; muscular activity of the human body; social activity in speech communication
Introduction to Linguistics 2. Defining linguistics and language: (1) What is linguistics? --a scientific study of language. (2) What is language? language involves three activities: neural activity in the human brain; muscular activity of the human body; social activity in speech communication
Introduction to Linguistics Language is a means of verbal communication. Language is:(p.3) rule-governed, instrumental, social and conventional(Social Semiotic)
Introduction to Linguistics Language is a means of verbal communication. Language is: (p.3) rule-governed, instrumental, social and conventional (Social Semiotic)
Design features of language (3)What are the design features of language? a.arbitrariness:signifier signified Two schools about the relationship between the signifier (sound image)and the signified (concept/referent): The naturalists:(Plato) There exists an intrinsic correspondence (a natural connection)between the sound image and the concept/referent
Design features of language (3) What are the design features of language? a. arbitrariness: signifier & signified Two schools about the relationship between the signifier (sound image) and the signified (concept/referent): The naturalists: (Plato) There exists an intrinsic correspondence (a natural connection) between the sound image and the concept/referent
Design features of language The conventionalists: (Aristotle,student of Plato) The relation between the signifier and the signified is conventional,arbitrary and well-established in people's linguistic communication. It is a kind of linguistic social contract. To express "a kind of structure made of stones and bricks, etc.for people,esp.a household to live in", we use“house”in English,"maison"”in French,“dom”in Russian,“casa”in Spanish and"fangzi(房子)in Chinese
Design features of language The conventionalists: (Aristotle, student of Plato) The relation between the signifier and the signified is conventional, arbitrary and well-established in people’s linguistic communication. It is a kind of linguistic social contract. To express “a kind of structure made of stones and bricks, etc. for people, esp. a household to live in”, we use “house” in English, “maison” in French, “dom” in Russian, “casa” in Spanish and “fangzi (房子) in Chinese
Design features of language But some words in English are motivated: Primary onomatopoeia:The pronunciation suggests meaning. Apes gibber. Bears growl.Bulls bellow. Camels grunt. Cats mew. Ducks quack. Bees buzz. Frogs croak.Geese cackle Goats bleat. Horses neigh.Hens cluck. Cocks crow. Lions roar. Mice squeak. Owls screech. Pigeons coo.Pigs grunt. Snakes hiss. Wolves howl
Design features of language • But some words in English are motivated: Primary onomatopoeia: The pronunciation suggests meaning. Apes gibber. Bears growl. Bulls bellow. Camels grunt. Cats mew. Ducks quack. Bees buzz. Frogs croak. Geese cackle. Goats bleat. Horses neigh. Hens cluck. Cocks crow. Lions roar. Mice squeak. Owls screech. Pigeons coo. Pigs grunt. Snakes hiss. Wolves howl
Design features of language Secondary onomatopoeia: Certain sounds and sound-sequences are associated with certain sense: /sn/may express three types of experiences: a).“"breath-noise”:snif(嗅)，snuf(闻)，snore(打鼾)，snort (哼鼻，喷气) b).“quick separation or movement":snip(剪去)，snap(折 断)，snatch(抓取). c).“creeping'':snake,snail(蜗牛)，sneak(潜行)，snoop(窥 探)
Design features of language • Secondary onomatopoeia: Certain sounds and sound-sequences are associated with certain sense: /sn/ may express three types of experiences: a). “breath-noise”: sniff (嗅), snuff (闻), snore (打鼾)，snort (哼鼻，喷气) b). “quick separation or movement”: snip (剪去), snap (折 断), snatch (抓取). c). “creeping”: snake, snail (蜗牛), sneak (潜行), snoop (窥 探)