A New Concise Course on A New Concise Course on Linguistics for Students of Linguistics for Students of

EnglishEnglish

A brilliant A brilliant andand fascinating fascinating subjectsubject

By WangJianqingBy WangJianqing

Course GuideCourse Guide

Course objectives:Course objectives: 理解掌握现代语言学有关概念和术语。理解掌握现代语言学有关概念和术语。 理解掌握现代语言学的基本理论。理解掌握现代语言学的基本理论。 能将理论结合于实际，用所学的基本理论来解能将理论结合于实际，用所学的基本理论来解析语言中的现象并能解决语言学习中的一些问析语言中的现象并能解决语言学习中的一些问题。题。

能具有较强的文化意识，自觉进行英汉语言对能具有较强的文化意识，自觉进行英汉语言对比，了解英汉语言文化差异。比，了解英汉语言文化差异。

初步了解语言学领域中各种观点，学派。初步了解语言学领域中各种观点，学派。 能对语言学的现状、在各个领域所取得的重要能对语言学的现状、在各个领域所取得的重要成果和发展趋势有一定的了解。成果和发展趋势有一定的了解。

contentcontent

课程内容包括：语言与语言学的概念；语课程内容包括：语言与语言学的概念；语言的本质特征；语音学、音位学、形态学、言的本质特征；语音学、音位学、形态学、句法学、语义学、语用学、英语的历史演句法学、语义学、语用学、英语的历史演变、语言与社会的关系、母语习得和第二变、语言与社会的关系、母语习得和第二语言学习等。语言学习等。

Why study language?Why study language?

We live in a world of language. We live in a world of language. Language is the source of human life Language is the source of human life

and powerand power Language serves as a means of Language serves as a means of

cognition and communication.cognition and communication.

Why study linguistics?Why study linguistics?

Linguistics may be defined as the Linguistics may be defined as the systematic or scientific study of language.systematic or scientific study of language.

Basic questions linguistics tries to answer:Basic questions linguistics tries to answer:

1. what is language?1. what is language?

2. how does language work?2. how does language work?

3. what do all languages have in common?3. what do all languages have in common?

4. why and how do languages change?4. why and how do languages change?

5. how does a child acquire his mother 5. how does a child acquire his mother tongue?tongue?

Scientific / systematic :Scientific / systematic : the process of linguistic the process of linguistic

study :study : 1. observing & questioning1. observing & questioning

2. formulating hypotheses2. formulating hypotheses

3. verifying the hypotheses3. verifying the hypotheses

4. proposing a theory4. proposing a theory

Why should we care?Why should we care?

First, informed people ought to First, informed people ought to know at least something about know at least something about modern science. It is helpful and modern science. It is helpful and necessary for English majors,necessary for English majors,

as language learners or would-be as language learners or would-be language teachers, to know some language teachers, to know some basic linguistic knowledge.basic linguistic knowledge.

Second, linguists’ modes of thought Second, linguists’ modes of thought are generalizable and can inform are generalizable and can inform other studies. Particularly, learning other studies. Particularly, learning linguistics can help improve our linguistics can help improve our logical and dialectical thinking.logical and dialectical thinking.

Third, language plays a central role Third, language plays a central role in our lives as individuals and social in our lives as individuals and social beings. Unaware of the nature and beings. Unaware of the nature and mechanism of the language, we will mechanism of the language, we will be ignorant of what constitutes our be ignorant of what constitutes our essential humanity. Linguistics essential humanity. Linguistics directly or indirectly says much directly or indirectly says much about human nature that we ought about human nature that we ought to be interested in.to be interested in.

The scope of linguisticsThe scope of linguistics

LanguageLanguage

as a systemas a system

Intra-Intra-disciplinarydisciplinary

Divisions:Divisions:

soundsoundPhoneticsPhonetics

phonologyphonology

structurestructureMorphologyMorphology

syntaxsyntax

meaningmeaningSemanticsSemantics

pragmaticspragmatics

Language Language

as a systemas a system

Inter-Inter-disciplinarydisciplinary

divisiondivision

in relation in relation to to

societysociety sociolinguisticssociolinguistics

Language Language

and mindand mind psycholinguistipsycholinguisticscs

applicationapplicationss

language language teaching teaching

applied applied linguisticslinguistics

what is language?what is language?

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

Design featuresDesign features

ArbitrarinessArbitrariness Productivity / creativityProductivity / creativity DualityDuality DisplacementDisplacement Cultural transmissionCultural transmission

ReviewingReviewing What is linguistics?What is linguistics? What does linguistics study?What does linguistics study? What is language?What is language? What are the design features of What are the design features of

language?language? What are the major functions of What are the major functions of

language?language?