《语言学概论》课程PPT讲稿（英文版）Chapter I Invitations to Linguistics

Chapter one Invitations to Linguistics

Chapter one Invitations to Linguistics

The nature of language A definition, Language is human speech the ability to communicate by this means, a system of vocal sounds and combinations of such sounds to which meaning is attributed, used for the expression or communication of thoughts and feelings the written representation of such a system(Websters New World Dictionary)

The nature of language A definition: Language is human speech; the ability to communicate by this means; a system of vocal sounds and combinations of such sounds to which meaning is attributed, used for the expression or communication of thoughts and feelings; the written representation of such a system. (Webster's New World Dictionary)

What does it mean to know> a language? A knowing the sounds that are part of the Ige and those that are not; the strange pronunciation of the foreigner e.g. Bach ch German sound outside the English sound system eg this that: zis zat th is not french sound system. speaker's unconscious knowledge of that fact

What does it mean to “know’’ a language? A. knowing the sounds that are part of the lge and those that are not; the strange pronunciation of the foreigner e.g. Bach ch German sound outside the English sound system ,e.g. this that: zis zat th is not French sound system.speaker’s unconscious knowledge of that fact

B, knowing which sounds may start a word end a word and follow each other Ghana word: Nkrumah begins with ng sound, not present in English

B. knowing which sounds may start a word, end a word, and follow each other. Ghana word : Nkrumah begins with ng sound , not present in English

C, knowing that certain sounds or sound sequence signify or represent different concepts or meanings. e.g. boy different from toy or girl knowing the system that relates sounds and meaning The relationship between speech sounds and meanings they represent is for most part an arbitrary one The sound of the word house signify the concept a building for people to live in", if you know French the same meaning is represented by"maison", Russian, by y “dom” Chinese“房子”. These different words show that the sounds of words are only given meaning by the language in which they occur

C. knowing that certain sounds or sound sequence signify or represent different concepts or meanings. e.g. boy different from toy or girl knowing the system that relates sounds and meaning. The relationship between speech sounds and meanings they represent is for most part an arbitrary one. The sound of the word “house” signify the concept “a building for people to live in”; if you know French the same meaning is represented by “maison” , Russian , by “dom” ; Chinese “房子”. These different words show that the sounds of words are only given meaning by the language in which they occur

D, knowledge of a language enables you to combine words to form phrases, and phrases to form sentences, to be able to produce new sentences never spoken before and to understand sentences never heard Defore. Noam Chomsky calls this ability ---the part of the creative aspect of language use

D. knowledge of a language enables you to combine words to form phrases, and phrases to form sentences, to be able to produce new sentences never spoken before and to understand sentences never heard before. Noam Chomsky calls this ability ---the part of the creative aspect of language use

E, knowing what sentences are appropriate in Various situations,(pragmatics more details) There is no limit on the length of any sentence and therefore no limit on the number of sentences Eg. When you know the sentence you can say This is the house or This is the house that jack built or This is the malt that lay in the house that jack built or This is the dog that chased the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built

E. knowing what sentences are appropriate in various situations; (pragmatics more details) There is no limit on the length of any sentence and therefore no limit on the number of sentences. E.g. When you know the sentence you can say: This is the house. or This is the house that Jack built. or This is the malt that lay in the house that jack built. or This is the dog that chased the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built

Language is Systematic People can learn and use a language. TWO basic systems: a system of sounds ; a system of meanings. It's called the duality of language. Concern: features of the two systems and their relationship

Language is Systematic People can learn and use a language. Two basic systems: a system of sounds ; a system of meanings. It's called the duality of language. Concern: features of the two systems and their relationship

A, Features of Sounds TWo levels: primary and secondary e. g [breland ld](secondary level) are meaningless by themselves, put together [bed]( primary level) Is meaningful A small number of sounds are repeated ---finite The combinations of sounds to form units of meanings ---infinite B. The relationship of two systems Agreed-upon sound-meaning relations and sequences A set of organizing principles(rules)that control any system of language E.g. slid and snid possible znid and std -impossible Syntax of a language: rules for the formation of sentences, or phrases and clauses the ordering of words: E.g. The boss hit Tom Tom hit the boss The hit tom boss x E.g. She read the book you gave her yesterday

A. Features of Sounds Two levels : primary and secondary e.g.[b],[e],and [d] (secondary level) are meaningless by themselves, put together [bed]( primary level) is meaningful. A small number of sounds are repeated ---finite The combinations of sounds to form units of meanings ---infinite B. The relationship of two systems Agreed-upon sound-meaning relations and sequences A set of organizing principles (rules) that control any system of language. E.g. slid and snid + possible znid and sntd -impossible Syntax of a language: rules for the formation of sentences, or phrases and clauses. the ordering of words: E.g. The boss hit Tom. Tom hit the boss. The hit tom boss. * E.g. She read the book you gave her yesterday

Language is Symbolic People use signs to communicate The working of signs is called by Saussure semiology by pierce"semiotics Signs ---ubiquitous in human society the location of language in sign systems and the relationship between an object and the sign that stands for the object

Language is Symbolic People use signs to communicate. The working of signs is called by Saussure "semiology", by Pierce "semiotics“. Signs ---ubiquitous in human society. the location of language in sign systems and the relationship between an object and the sign that stands for the object