A New Concise Course on Linguistics for Students of English A brilliant and fascinating subject By WangJianqing

Course 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 析语言中的现象并能解决语言学习中的一些问 题。 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 题。 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。 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。 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 成果和发展趋势有一定的了解。 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。

content 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、 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 语言学习等。 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、 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 语言学习等。

Why study language? We live in a world of language. We live in a world of language. Language is the source of human life and power Language is the source of human life and power Language serves as a means of cognition and communication. Language serves as a means of cognition and communication.

Why study linguistics? Linguistics may be defined as the systematic or scientific study of language. Linguistics may be defined as the 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 tongue? 5. how does a child acquire his mother tongue?

Scientific / systematic : Scientific / systematic : the process of linguistic study : the process of linguistic study : 1. observing & questioning 1. observing & questioning 2. formulating hypotheses 2. formulating hypotheses 3. verifying the hypotheses 3. verifying the hypotheses 4. proposing a theory 4. proposing a theory

Why should we care? First, informed people ought to know at least something about modern science. It is helpful and necessary for English majors, First, informed people ought to know at least something about modern science. It is helpful and necessary for English majors, as language learners or would-be language teachers, to know some basic linguistic knowledge. as language learners or would-be language teachers, to know some basic linguistic knowledge.

Second, linguists ’ modes of thought are generalizable and can inform other studies. Particularly, learning linguistics can help improve our logical and dialectical thinking. Second, linguists ’ modes of thought are generalizable and can inform other studies. Particularly, learning linguistics can help improve our logical and dialectical thinking. Third, language plays a central role in our lives as individuals and social beings. Unaware of the nature and mechanism of the language, we will be ignorant of what constitutes our essential humanity. Linguistics directly or indirectly says much about human nature that we ought to be interested in. Third, language plays a central role in our lives as individuals and social beings. Unaware of the nature and mechanism of the language, we will be ignorant of what constitutes our essential humanity. Linguistics directly or indirectly says much about human nature that we ought to be interested in.

The scope of linguistics Language Language as a system as a systemIntra-disciplinaryDivisions: sound soundPhoneticsphonology structure structureMorphologysyntax meaning meaningSemanticspragmatics

Language Language as a system as a systemInter-disciplinarydivision in relation to society sociolinguistics sociolinguistics Language and mind psycholinguistics applications language teaching language teaching applied linguistics

what is language? Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication

Design features Arbitrariness Arbitrariness Productivity / creativity Productivity / creativity Duality Duality Displacement Displacement Cultural transmission Cultural transmission

Reviewing Reviewing 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 language? What are the design features of language? What are the major functions of language? What are the major functions of language?