14. Language is written because writing is the primary medium for all languages 15. We were all born with the ability to acquire language, which means the details of any language system can be genetically transmitted 16. Only human beings are able to communicate 17. F de saussure, who made the distinction between langue and parole in the early 20th century, was a French linguist A study of the features of the English used in Shakespeare's time is an example of the diachronic study of language 19. Speech and writing came into being at much the same time in human histor 20. All the languages in the world today have both spoken and written forms Ill. Fill in the blanks. (10%) 21. Language, broadly speaking, is a means of communication In any language words can be used in new ways to mean new things and can be combined into innumerable sentences based on limited rules. This feature is usually termed Language has many functions. We can use language to talk about itself. This function is Theory that primitive man made involuntary vocal noises while performing heavy work has been called the the Linguistics is the study of language Modern linguistics is in the sense that the linguist tries to discover what language is rather than lay down some rules for people to observe 27 One general principle of linguistic analysis is the primacy of over writing 28. The description of a language as it changes through time is a Saussure put forward two important concept refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of a speech community Linguistic potential is similar to Saussures langue and Chomsky's IV. Explain the following terms, using examples. (20%) Design feature Displacer 33 34 Synchronic li V. Answer the following questions. (20%) Why do people take duality as one of the important design features of human language? Can you tell us what language will be if it has no such design feature?(南开大学,2004) 36. Why is it difficult to define language?(北京第二外国语大学,2004) Analyze the following situation. (20%)14. Language is written because writing is the primary medium for all languages. 15. We were all born with the ability to acquire language, which means the details of any language system can be genetically transmitted. 16. Only human beings are able to communicate. 17. F. de Saussure, who made the distinction between langue and parole in the early 20th century, was a French linguist. 18. A study of the features of the English used in Shakespeare’s time is an example of the diachronic study of language. 19. Speech and writing came into being at much the same time in human history. 20. All the languages in the world today have both spoken and written forms. III. Fill in the blanks. (10%) 21. Language, broadly speaking, is a means of __________ communication. 22. In any language words can be used in new ways to mean new things and can be combined into innumerable sentences based on limited rules. This feature is usually termed __________. 23. Language has many functions. We can use language to talk about itself. This function is __________. 24. Theory that primitive man made involuntary vocal noises while performing heavy work has been called the __________ theory. 25. Linguistics is the __________ study of language. 26. Modern linguistics is __________ in the sense that the linguist tries to discover what language is rather than lay down some rules for people to observe. 27. One general principle of linguistic analysis is the primacy of __________ over writing. 28. The description of a language as it changes through time is a __________ study. 29. Saussure put forward two important concepts. __________ refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of a speech community. 30. Linguistic potential is similar to Saussure’s langue and Chomsky’s __________. IV. Explain the following terms, using examples. (20%) 31. Design feature 32. Displacement 33. Competence 34. Synchronic linguistics V. Answer the following questions. (20%) 35. Why do people take duality as one of the important design features of human language? Can you tell us what language will be if it has no such design feature? （南开大学，2004） 36. Why is it difficult to define language? （北京第二外国语大学，2004） VI. Analyze the following situation. (20%)