语言学

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Chapter 1 introduction

 Linguistics

Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language.

The word Language preceded by the zero article in English implies that linguistics studies not any particular language , but languages in general.

The word study does not mean learn but investigate or examine. The word scientific refers to the way in which it is studied.

 general linguistics

The study of language as a whole is often called general linguistics , which deals with the basic concepts , theories , descriptions , models and methods applicable in any linguistic study.

 When the study of meaning is conducted , not in isolation , but in

the context of use , it becomes another branch of linguistic study called pragmatics.

 Some important distinctions in linguistics  Descriptive(描写性) & Prescriptive(规定性)

Descriptive ：If a linguistic study describes and analyzes the

language people actually use , it is said to be descriptive.

Prescriptive ：If it aims to lay down rules for “correct” behavior ,

i.e., to tell people what they should say and what they should not say , it is said to be prescriptive.

Modern linguistics is mostly descriptive.



 Synchronic(共时的) & diachronic(历时的)

Synchronic ：The description of a language at some point in times

is a synchronic study.

diachronic ：The description of a language as it changes through

time is a diachronic study.

In modern linguistics , synchronic study seems to enjoy priority over diachronic study.

 Speech & writing

Speech and writing are the two major media of communication. Modern linguistics regards the spoken language as primary , not the written.

Modern linguistics gives priority to the spoken form of language.  Speech precedes writing. The writing system of any language is always a later invention , used to record the speech.


 While quite a number of languages in the world today have both spoken and written forms , there are still many languages that have only the spoken form.

In terms of function , the spoken language is used for a wider range of purposes than the written , and carries a larger load of communication than the written.

 Langue(语言) & parole(言语)

The distinction between langue and parole was made by the Swiss linguist Saussure.

langue refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community , and parole refers to the realization of langue in actual use.

langue is the set of conventions and rules which language users all have to abide by , and parole is the concrete(具体的，实在的) use of the conventions and the application of the rules. Langue is abstract; it is not the language people actually use. Parole is concrete; it refers to the naturally occurring language events.

 Competence(语言能力) & performance(语言运用)

It is proposed by the American linguist 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 the rules of his language in linguistic communication.

While Saussure’s distinction and Chomsky’s are very similar , they differ at least in that Saussure took a sociological(社会学的) view of language and his notion of langue is a matter of social conventions , and Chomsky looks at language from a psychological（心理学的） point of view and to him competence is a property of the mind of each individual.

 Language

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

 Design features

By the American linguist Charles Hockett. 5/12

Arbitrariness ; productivity ; duality ; displacement ; cultural transmission  Arbitrariness 任意性

Arbitrariness is one of the design features ,which means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. A good example is the fact that different sounds are used to refer to the same object in different languages.

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