CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Definition :
linguistics can be defined as the scientific or systematic study of language. It is always guided by the
three cannons of science:exhaustiveness, consistency and economy.
Linguistics
Linguistics versus
traditional grammar:
Scope
Microlinguistics
Phonetics
Phonology Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Pragmatics
Macrolinguistics
Sociolinguistics
Psycholinguistics
Neurolinguistics
Stylistics
Discourse analysis
Computational linguistics
Cognitive linguistics
Definition:
Ding-Dong Theory:
human speech developed from primitive man giving vocal expression to the objects he encountered.
Sing-Song Theory:
language developed from primitive ritual songs of praise.
Pooh-Pooh Theory:
language came from interjections, which express he speaker
鈥?/p>
s emotions.
Origins
Yo-He-Ho Theory:
language came from the cries uttered, during strain of work.
Ta-Ta Theory :
language came from the combination of certain gestures and tongues movements.
Bow-Wow Theory:
language came from imitation of animal cries and other sounds heard in nature.
Design
features
Functions
Linguistics describes languages and does not lay down rules of correctness while traditional
grammar emphasizes correctness.
Linguists regard the spoken language as primary, not the written while traditional grammar
emphasizes the priority of written language.
Traditional
grammar
is
based
on
Latin
and
it
tries
to
impose
the
Latin
categories
and
structures on other languages. Linguistics describes each language on its own merits.
language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
Language
is
a
system---elements
in
it
are
not
arranged
and
combined
randomly,
but
according
to
some
rules
and
principles. Language is arbitrary
--- there is no intrinsic connection between the word (e.g. pen) and the thing(e.g.
what we write with).Language is vocal---the primary medium for all languages is sound. Language is used for human
communication ---it is human-specific, very different form systems of animal communication.
Arbitrarines
s:
this
refers
to
the
fact
that
there
is
no
logical
or
intrinsic
connection
between
a
particular
sound
and
the
meaning it is associated with. For example, English should use the sounds/d
蓴
g/ to refer to the animal dog, but Chinese should
use
鈥?/p>
gou
鈥?/p>
to
refer
to
te
same
animal.
A
dog
may
be
called
a
pig
if
the
first
man
happens
to
name
it
as
a
鈥?/p>
pig
鈥?/p>
.
So,
the
relationship
between
the
sounds
and
their
meaning
is
quite
accidental.
Of
course,
onomatopoetic
words
such
as
鈥?/p>
quack-quack
鈥?/p>
and
鈥?/p>
bang
鈥?/p>
are exceptions, but words these are relatively few compared withe the total number of words in
language.
Duality:
language operates on two levels of structure. At one level are elements which have no meaning in themselves but
which combine to form units at another level which do have meaning.
Productivity
:
productivity
or
creativity
refers
to
man
鈥?/p>
s
linguistic
ability
which
enables
him
to
produce
and
understand
an
infinitely large number of sentences in our native language, including the sentences which were never heard before.
Interchangeability
: interchangeability or reciprocity refers to the fact that man can both produce and receive messages, and
his roles as a speaker and a hearer can be exchanged at ease.
Displacement:
displacement is a property of language enabling people to talk about things remote either in space or in time.
Specialization
:
specialization
refers
to
the
fact
that
man
does
not
have
a
total
physical
involvement
in
the
act
of
communication.
Cultural transmission
: language is culturally transmitted. It cannot be transmitted through heredity. A human being brought
up in isolations simply doesn
鈥?/p>
t acquire language, as is demonstrated by the studies of children brought up by animals without
human contact. Animals transmit their cries simply from parent to child, while human baby doesn
鈥?/p>
t speak any language at
birth. What language a baby is going to speak is determined by the culture he is born into. A Chinese baby born and brought
up in London by an English family will speak English, while an English kid brought up in a Chinese community will speak
Chinese.
Phatic function/communion
Directive function
Informative function
Interrogative function
Expressive function
Evocative function
Performative function