复习题及答案-语言学基本知识与技能

复习题及答案-语言学基本知识与技能

Chapter One

Introduction

I．What is linguistics?

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language. Linguistics studies not any particular language, but it studies languages in general. It is a scientific study because it is based on the systematic investigation of linguistic data, conducted with reference to some general theory of language structure.

II．The scope of linguistics

1. Phonetics：The study of sounds used in linguistic communication led to the establishment of phonetics.

2. Phonology: deals with how sounds are put together and used to convey meaning in communication.

3. Morphology: The study of the way in which morphemes are arranged and combined to form words has constituted the branch of study called morphology.

4. Syntax: The combination of words to form grammatically permissible sentences in languages is governed by rules. The study of these rules constitutes a major branch of linguistic studies called syntax.

5. Semantics: The study of meaning is known as semantics.

6. Pragmatics: When the study of meaning is conducted, not in isolation, but in the context of language use, it becomes another branch of linguistic study called pragmatics.

7. Sociolinguitics: The study of social aspects of languages and its relation with society form the core of the branch called sociolinguitics.

8. Psycholinguistics relates the study of language to psychology.

9. Applied linguistics: Findings in linguistics studies can often be applied to the solution of such practical problems as the recovery of speech ability. The study of such applications is generally known as applied linguistics.

III. Some important distinctions in linguistics

1. Prescriptive vs. descriptive

If a linguistic study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use, it is said to be descriptive; if the linguistic study aims to lay down rules for “correct and standard”behaviour in using language, it is said to be prescriptive.

2.Synchronic vs. diachronic

The description of a language at some point of time in history is a synchronic study; the description of a language as it changes through time is a diachronic study.

3. Speech and writing

Speech and writing are the two major media of linguistic communication. Modern linguistics regards the spoken language as the natural or the primary medium of human language for some obvious reasons. From the point of view of linguistic evolution, speech is prior to writing. The writing system of any language is always “invented”by its users to record speech when the need arises.

4. Langue and parole

The distinction between langue and parole was made by the Swiss linguist F. de Saussure in the early 20th century. Langue and parole are French words. Langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community, and parole refers to the realization of language in actual use.

https://www.360docs.net/doc/1818301774.html,petence and performance

The distinction between competence and performance was proposed by the American linguist N. Chomsky in the late 1950’s. Chomsky defines competence as the ideal user’s knowledge of the rules of his language, and performance the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.

6.Traditional grammar and modern

linguistics

Traditional grammar refers to the studies of language before the publication of F. de Saussure’s book Course in General Linguistics in 1916. Modern linguistics differs from traditional

grammar in several basic ways.

First, linguistics is descriptive while traditional grammar is prescriptive.

Second, Modern linguistics regards the spoken language as primary not the written.

Then, modern linguistics differs from traditional grammar also in that it does not force languages into a Latin-based framework. IV. What is language?

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

1.Design features

1) Arbitrariness

Language is arbitrary. This means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds.

2) Productivity

Language is productive or creative in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users.

3) Duality

Language is a system, which consists of two

sets of structures, or two levels. At the lower or basic level there is a structure of sounds, which are meaningless by themselves. But the sounds of language can be grouped and regrouped into a large number of units of meaning, which are found at the higher level of the system. This duality of structure or double articulation of language enables its users to talk about anything within their knowledge.

4) Displacement

Language can be used to refer to contexts removed from the immediate situations of the speaker. This is what “displacement” means. This property provides speakers with an opportunity to talk about a wide range of things, free from barriers caused by separation in time and place.

5) Cultural transmission

Human capacity for language has a genetic basis while the details of any language system are not genetically transmitted, but instead have to be taught and learned. This shows that language is culturally transmitted. It is passed from one generation to the next through teaching and learning, rather than by instinct.

2.Functions of Language

1)I nformative

It is the major role of language. The use of