1、Chen X025-51983822025-51983822An Introduction to English Linguistics精品课程精品课程精品课程精品课程“英语语言学英语语言学英语语言学英语语言学”http:/ objectives:-mastery of some linguistic concepts and theories in order to understand how language is constructed,how language operates,how language is used to do things,how language is acq
2、uired or learnt,how language varies according to the user or the situation,etc.;-improvement of English proficiency in general and enhancement of the awareness of patterns and regularities in the English language;-preparation for further study and research about language.第2页Textbook and reference bo
3、oks陈新仁，陈新仁，陈新仁，陈新仁，英语语言学实用教程英语语言学实用教程英语语言学实用教程英语语言学实用教程，苏州大学出版，苏州大学出版，苏州大学出版，苏州大学出版社，社，社，社，。戴炜栋、何兆熊、华钧，戴炜栋、何兆熊、华钧，新编简明英语语言学教新编简明英语语言学教程程（修订本），上海外语教育出版社，（修订本），上海外语教育出版社，。丁言仁，郝克，丁言仁，郝克，英语语言学纲要英语语言学纲要，上海外语教，上海外语教育出版社，育出版社，。胡壮麟主编，胡壮麟主编，语言学教程语言学教程，北京大学出版社，北京大学出版社，。Yule,G.Yule,G.The Study of Language The
4、Study of Language 语言研究语言研究.外语外语教学与研究出版社，教学与研究出版社，.第3页Course outlineLecture 1:Introduction to the courseLecture 1:Introduction to the courseLecture 2:Some preliminaries about languageLecture 2:Some preliminaries about languageLecture 3:The sounds of EnglishLecture 3:The sounds of EnglishLecture 4:The
5、 units of English(1)Lecture 4:The units of English(1)Lecture 5:The structures of English(1)Lecture 5:The structures of English(1)Lecture 6:The structures of English(2)Lecture 6:The structures of English(2)Lecture 7:The meaning of English(1)Lecture 7:The meaning of English(1)Lecture 8:The meaning of
6、English(2)Lecture 8:The meaning of English(2)第4页Lecture 9:The use of English(1)Lecture 9:The use of English(1)Lecture 10:The use of English(2)Lecture 10:The use of English(2)Lecture 11:The varieties of English(1)Lecture 11:The varieties of English(1)Lecture 12:The varieties of English(2)Lecture 12:T
7、he varieties of English(2)Lecture 13:The acquisition of EnglishLecture 13:The acquisition of EnglishLecture 14:Empirical research of EnglishLecture 14:Empirical research of EnglishLecture 15-18 Research practiceLecture 15-18 Research practice第5页Course componentsLecturesDiscussionsPresentationAssignm
8、entsResearch第6页Course assessment:attendance(10%)participation in classroom discussion(20%)presentation(10%)assignments(20%)term paper(40%)第7页Term paperA-4/1.5 space/Times New Roman/10.5 font size/5 pages(including 5-10 references)First-hand data+analysis第8页Lecture 2 Some preliminaries about language
9、2.1 The definition of language2.2 The functions of language 2.3 The origin of language2.4 The defining features of language2.5 The acquisition of language第9页2.1 The definition of languageThe question“what is language?”is comparable with and,some would say,hardly less profound than “what is life?”-Jo
10、hn Lyons -John Lyons How do you define language?第10页列宁列宁(论民族自治论民族自治)：Language is the most Language is the most important tool for human communication.important tool for human communication.Chomsky(1957):a set of(finite or infinite)of Chomsky(1957):a set of(finite or infinite)of sentences,each finite
11、 in length and constructed sentences,each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.out of a finite set of elements.Sapir(1921):Language is a purely human and Sapir(1921):Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas,non-instinctive method of com
12、municating ideas,emotions,and desires by means of voluntarily emotions,and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.produced symbols.第11页Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.-胡壮麟胡壮麟第12页“language”used in various contexts(pp.10-11,No.1)Chinese is a langu
13、age Linguistics is the systematic study of language.Both Jane and John like Shakespeares language.the language of bees 第13页Language contributes to the success of our everyday life and the survival of human beings.Discussion:What functions does language serve for our life and survival?2.2 The functio
14、ns of language第14页Humans are said to be language animals.But what if we humans lived without language?There are some 6,800 known languages spoken in the 200 countries of the world.In,the total number of languages in the world was estimated to be 6,809,of which 2,261 have writing systems(the others a
15、re only spoken).What if there were only one language the world over?(P.11 No.2)第15页Some common functions of languagephatic:Hello!phatic:Hello!directive:Get out of my way!directive:Get out of my way!informative:The earth revolves around the sun.informative:The earth revolves around the sun.interrogat
16、ive:Do you know his hobby?interrogative:Do you know his hobby?expressive:I hate her.expressive:I hate her.evocative:How do you like Jack?evocative:How do you like Jack?performative:I hereby declare the meeting open.performative:I hereby declare the meeting open.interpersonal:Tommy,Dear Friendinterpe
17、rsonal:Tommy,Dear Friendrecreational:humor;rhyming;punsrecreational:humor;rhyming;punsmetalinguistic:what I mean is;in other wordsmetalinguistic:what I mean is;in other words第16页Discussion:PP.16-17 No.5第17页PP.12-13 No.62.3 The origin of language第18页2.4 The defining features of languageAlso called de
18、sign features(C.F.Hockett,A Course Also called design features(C.F.Hockett,A Course in Modern Linguistics,1958)in Modern Linguistics,1958)a.creativitya.creativity“creativity”,“creativity”,sometimes sometimes also also“productivity”,“productivity”,means means the the property property which which mak
19、es makes possible possible the the construction construction and and interpretation interpretation of of new new symbols,symbols,i.e.i.e.of of signals signals that that have have not not been previously encountered.been previously encountered.Of Of course,course,the the property property of of creat
20、ivity creativity is is rule-governedrule-governed according according to to Chomsky.Chomsky.Thus,Thus,the the creativity creativity in in linguistics linguistics is different from that in art,which means breaking rules.is different from that in art,which means breaking rules.第19页b.b.arbitrarinessThe
21、 The term term“arbitrary”“arbitrary”here here means means something something inexplicable inexplicable in in terms terms of of some some more more general general principles.principles.It It is is impossible impossible to to predict predict the the meaning meaning from from the the form,form,or vic
22、e versa.or vice versa.word word form meaning form meaningDiscuss:P.12 No.5第20页Question:By this property do we mean that a person can use the language as freely as we like?How about argot?How about onomatopeic words?PP.11-12 No.4How about words like flow,float,flood,fluent,etc.?P.17 No.6Other example
23、s:J-:joy,jovial,jubilate,joyous,joyful,jubilantGl-:glow,glisten,gleam,glare,glint,glimmer,glitter第21页c.duality of structure/double articulationb-o-o-k(meaningless segments:lower level,secondary)-Book(meaningful unit:higher level,primary)第22页Question:Why is this property generally assumed as central
24、to language?Does animal language have this property?How is this related to communicative power?第23页d.displacement This property give rise to the flexibility and versatility of language.Communication by means of language is constrained neither by time nor by space.Question:What advantages does this p
25、roperty of language yield?How about the other communication systems?第24页e.cultural transmissionAnimal call systems are genetically transmitted.Animal call systems are genetically transmitted.Language is passed on from one generation to Language is passed on from one generation to another by teaching
26、 and learning,rather than by another by teaching and learning,rather than by instinct.instinct.QuestionQuestion:Can we deny that human language has a:Can we deny that human language has a genetic basis?What is the implication of the story genetic basis?What is the implication of the story about“wolf
27、 child”?What about those patients with about“wolf child”?What about those patients with neurological lesions in areas like Broca area(named neurological lesions in areas like Broca area(named after a French scientist)and Wernicke area(named after a French scientist)and Wernicke area(named after a Ge
28、rman scientist)after a German scientist)aphasia aphasia?第25页What all languages seem to shareP.15 No.12第26页What do we mean by“knowing a language”?What do we mean by“knowing a language”?*/bdek/*/bdek/*enblack*enblack*He me laugh at.*He me laugh at.*The father of the orphan is in Beijing.*The father of
29、 the orphan is in Beijing.A:Sorry I broke your glass.A:Sorry I broke your glass.*B:*B:Thank youThank you.第27页2.5 The acquisition of languageL1 acquisition is said to have the following features:a.universally successful;b.without explicit instruction(teacher,textbook,school,syllabus,etc.);c.rapid(0-4
30、 years old);d.conditional(i.exposure;ii.critical period 1.5-4years old;iii.no mental deficiency).第28页L1 acquisition generally falls into some stages:a.babbling period:birth-around 6 months,produce some sounds;b.syllabic speech period:around 8 months,syllables replace babbled sounds,like mama;c.singl
31、e-word stage:around 1 year old,first words,no grammar;carry out simple commands;d.onset of speech:18 months,more words(3-50 words);第29页e.two-word utterances stage:2 years old,can name most things around him;begin his own creation of two-word phrases(early stage of grammar),pivot words+open words,e.g
32、.Mummy sock;f.full-understanding stage:2.5 years old,e.g.daddy kick ball;g.near adult-speech:3 years old;overgeneralization of inflections;h.adult speech:4 years old.第30页Discuss PP.13-14:No.7,8,9 第31页Assignments1.Review the major points of this lecture.2.For the various functions of language discuss
33、ed in class,use one example of your own to illustrate each.Submit your assignment to the e-class第32页Form“study and research”groups(4-5 persons for 1 group).Each group draws a topic out of the following:a.Word formation in English Week 3a.Word formation in English Week 3b.Interrogative sentences in E
34、nglish Week 4b.Interrogative sentences in English Week 4c.Phatic communion in English and Chinese c.Phatic communion in English and Chinese 寒暄寒暄 Week 5 Week 5d.The naming of people in English Week 6d.The naming of people in English Week 6e.Metonymy in English Week 7e.Metonymy in English Week 7f.Comp
35、limenting and responding to compliments in English f.Complimenting and responding to compliments in English Week 8Week 8g.Strategies for doing face-threatening acts in English Week 9g.Strategies for doing face-threatening acts in English Week 9h.Euphemisms in English Week 10h.Euphemisms in English W
36、eek 10i.The change of English Week 11i.The change of English Week 11j.Chinglish Week 12j.Chinglish Week 12第33页The members of each group must work together when collecting materials,preparing the PPT,and presenting the report.Each presentation is to last about 20 minutes.Each PPT must be sent to the
37、teacher for comments and advice ONE weak prior to the report.第34页Lecture 3 The sounds of English第35页ReviewWhat are the major defining features that natural languages possess?第36页Major contents3.1 Linguistics and its branches3.2 Vowels and consonants3.3 Phones,phonemes,and allophones3.4 Phonological
38、rules3.5 English syllables3.6 Stress,tone,and intonation第37页3.1 Linguistics and its branchesIn 1916,Ferdinand de Saussures Course in General Linguistics was published,which marked the beginning of modern linguistics.第38页Summary Traditional linguisticsTraditional linguistics Modern linguisticsModern
39、linguistics parole langue parole langue written language spoken language written language spoken language diachronic synchronic diachronic synchronic prescriptive descriptive prescriptive descriptive atomism structuralism atomism structuralism particularity universalityparticularity universality ind
40、ividuality individuality第39页Branches of linguisticsCore branches:phonetics,phonology,semantics,syntax,(pragmatics)Peripheral branches(hyphenated ones):socio-linguistics,psycho-linguistics,neuro-linguistics,etc.applied linguistics:language testing,stylistics,discourse analysis,text linguistics,comput
41、ation linguistics,etc.第40页Phonetics vs.phonologyThe study of sounds used in speech(i.e.speech sounds)falls under the scope of both phonetics and phonology.Phonetics deals mainly with the characteristics of human speech sounds and sound-making,provides methods for the description,classification,and t
42、ranscription of the speech sounds.Phonology is concerned with the exploration of the patterns governing sound combinations.第41页Branches of phoneticsa.articulatory phonetics,which studies speech organs and how speech sounds are made(articulated)by the vocal organs.our major concernb.acoustic phonetic
43、s,which studies the physical properties of speech sounds.c.auditory phonetics,which studies the perception of speech sounds.第42页3.2 vowels and consonantsIn pronouncing consonants,the airstream from the lungs through the mouth is totally or partially obstructed somewhere along the path.In pronouncing
44、 vowels,the airstream is not obstructed anywhere along the path.第43页a.Functionally,vowels are the basis of syllables.b.Physically,vowels are musical.c.Articulatorily,for vowels,airstream is not obstructed,and speech organs are tense.第44页Discuss:P.38 No.1第45页Classification of English vowelsCriteriai)
45、the height of tongue raising(high,mid,low)ii)the position of the highest part of the tongue(front,central,back)iii)the degree of lip-rounding(rounded,unrounded)iv)long or shortv)tense or lax第46页P.28 Figure 2.2第47页Vowel description/i:/:high,front,unrounded,long,tense/i/:high,front,unrounded,short,lax
46、/:/:low,back,unrounded,long,tense/c:/:mid,back,rounded,long,tense/:mid,central,unrounded,lax /:/:mid,central,unrounded,long,tensePractice:Describe the sound/u:/and/.第48页/u:/:high,back,rounded,tense,long/:low,front,unrounded,lax第49页Classifying English consonantscriteriai)manner of articulation(degree
47、 of obstruction:complete,partial or a mere narrowing)ii)place f articulation(the parts of vocal tongue involved in the production)第50页P.29 Table 2.2第51页3.3 Phones,phonemes,and allophonesPhonology is the study of sound patterns of language(i.e.how sounds are arranged to form meaningful units)and the
48、function of each sound.It reveals what are the possible combinations of sounds in a language and explains why certain words take the form they do.第52页Phone 音素音素phone:the smallest perceptible discrete segment of sound in a stream of speechi)phonetic unitii)not distinctive of meaningiii)physical as he
49、ard or producediv)marked with 第53页Phoneme 音位音位the minimal unit in the sound system of a language.With phonemes,we establish the patterns of organization within the infinitely large number of sounds.Each language can be shown to operate with a relatively small number of phonemes(15-80).No two languag
50、es have the same phonemic system.第54页Phoneme 音位i)phonological unitii)distinctive of meaningiii)abstract,not physicaliv)marked with/.Discuss:P.33 No.1第55页Three requirements for identifying minimal pairs:1)different in meaning;2)only one phoneme different;3)the different phonemes occur in the same pho
