1. Introduction to Linguistics 胡志清 huzhiqing@mail.hust胡志清 huzhiqing@mail.hust. 胡志清 huzhiqing@mail.hustedu.cn

2. Course Description Linguistics is the systematic study of language and attempts to answer two fundamental questions: What is language? How does language work?

3. It outlines the scope of linguistics, Overview Phonetics and Phonology Morphology and Syntax Semantics Psycholinguistics & socio-linguistics pragmatics & stylistics computational linguistics Linguistics and EFL teaching

4. References 胡壮麟. 语言学教程（修订版）, 北京 大学出版社， 2001 胡壮麟. 语言学教程（修订版）, 北京 大学出版社， 2001 戴炜栋. 新编简明英语语言学教程，上 海外语教育出版社， 2002 戴炜栋. 新编简明英语语言学教程，上 海外语教育出版社， 2002 胡壮麟、李战子. 语言学简明教程，北 京大学出版社， 2004 胡壮麟、李战子. 语言学简明教程，北 京大学出版社， 2004

5. Radford, et al, Linguistics: An Introduction, 外语教学与研究出版 社， 2000 Radford, et al, Linguistics: An Introduction, 外语教学与研究出版 社， 2000

6. Lecture One: Overview 1.1 Mysteries about language Why do Children learn their L1 without any difficulties? Why do Children learn their L1 without any difficulties? Is language rule-governed? Is language rule-governed? Is there any difference among the varieties of language? Is there any difference among the varieties of language?

7. Does language change? Does language change? What is the relationship between language and other areas? What is the relationship between language and other areas?

8. 1.2 1.2 What does language mean? It means what a person says or said. e.g “ What he says sounds reasonable, but he expressed himself in such bad language that many people misunderstand him.”

9. It means a personal dialect e.g Shakespeare’s language, Luxun’s language a particular genre or style in speaking and writing e.g formal language, colloquial language, trade language

10. The abstract system underlying the the speech/writing behavior. It refers to every aspect in a language system,e.g pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, etc. The abstract system underlying the the speech/writing behavior. It refers to every aspect in a language system,e.g pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, etc. e.g the English/Chinese language e.g the English/Chinese language first/second language first/second language

11. 1.3 What is language? Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Systematic : elements are arranged according to certain rules. Systematic : elements are arranged according to certain rules. E.g bkli ( not an English word) He table a green (not acceptable) He table a green (not acceptable)

12. Arbitrary: no intrinsic connection between the sense and the reference. “ A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” E.g book (English), buch (German) shu (Chinese)

13. Greetings: Chinese: Ni Hao English: Hello German: Guten Tag Italian: Ciao(qi_ou) Japanese: Kon Ni-qi-wa Spanish: Hola Turkey:Merhaba Polish: Czesc (qie-xi-t)

14. Symbolic: words are associated with objects, actions and ideas in the real world. Symbolic: words are associated with objects, actions and ideas in the real world. Vocal: the primary medium for communication of sound for all languages. It comes much earlier than the spoken forms. Vocal: the primary medium for communication of sound for all languages. It comes much earlier than the spoken forms. Human: Language is human-specific. Different from animal communication systems Human: Language is human-specific. Different from animal communication systems

15. 1.4 Design features( 结构特征 ): the properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication. Arbituariness: There is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. However language is not entirely arbitrary. Arbituariness: There is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. However language is not entirely arbitrary.

16. e.g onomatopoetic words : bang, hiss, buzz, jingle, tinkle,etc. Some compounds are also motivated e.g shoemaker, blackboard, air-con

17. Duality: Language system has two sets of structures: sounds and meaning. Duality: Language system has two sets of structures: sounds and meaning. Productivity: users can understand and produce sentences they have never heard before.e.g child language. Productivity: users can understand and produce sentences they have never heard before.e.g child language. e.g mum socks e.g mum socks There is a wug in the pool. There is a wug in the pool. There are some wugs in the pool. There are some wugs in the pool.

18. Displacement: Language can be used to refer to things which are not present. Displacement: Language can be used to refer to things which are not present. Cultural transmission: It is passed on from generations to the next by teaching and learning rather by instinct. Cultural transmission: It is passed on from generations to the next by teaching and learning rather by instinct. e.g animal call systems :identical to all that species Chinese and English speakers are not mutually intelligible. Chinese and English speakers are not mutually intelligible.

19. 1.5 Origins of language The devine-origin theory: a gift from God. The devine-origin theory: a gift from God. The invention theory: man invented language The invention theory: man invented language (1) The bow-wow theory: primitive people imitated the sounds of animals. (Evidence: onomatopoeic words)

20. (2) The pooh-pooh theory: primitive people instinctively expressed their feelings e.g anger, pain, joy,etc. (evidence: interjections: Oh, Ah, aiyo) (3) The yo-he-ho theory: primitives produced rhythmic sounds when working together. (Evidence: chants) It is Labor that creates the necessity of language

21. 1.6 Functions of language (By M. A. K. Halliday) Phatic( 交际性 ): language used for establishing an atmosphere or maintaining social contact rather than for exchanging information or ideas. Phatic( 交际性 ): language used for establishing an atmosphere or maintaining social contact rather than for exchanging information or ideas. e.g greetings, farewells, comments on the weather, etc.

22. Directive: get the hearer to do something(imperative sentences) Directive: get the hearer to do something(imperative sentences) e.g Shut the door, please. You ought to finish it in time. You ought to finish it in time.

23. Informative: to give information about facts (declarative sentences) Informative: to give information about facts (declarative sentences) judged by either true or false. e.g Water boils at 212 degree F.(T) Gold melts at 300 degree F.(F) Gold melts at 300 degree F.(F)

24. Interrogative : to get information from others. It includes all questions that expect answers. Interrogative : to get information from others. It includes all questions that expect answers. e.g When did he arrive? e.g When did he arrive? What do you think of it? What do you think of it?

25. Expressive: to reveal feelings and attitudes of the speaker. Expressive: to reveal feelings and attitudes of the speaker. e.g Good heavens! I’m extremely sorry about … I’m extremely sorry about … We are most grateful for this. We are most grateful for this.

26. Evocative: to create certain feelings in the hearer. Evocative: to create certain feelings in the hearer. e.g jokes, propaganda e.g jokes, propaganda Performative: language is used to “do things” or perform actions Performative: language is used to “do things” or perform actions e.g I declare the meeting open. e.g I declare the meeting open. I now announce you man and wife. I now announce you man and wife.

27. 1.7 What Is Linguistics? Linguistics is the scientific study of language study: “ investigate ” or “ examine ”, not “ learn ” scientific: more systematic language: languages of all human societies

28. 1.8 Four principles of studying language Exhaustiveness: the linguist should gather all the materials relevant to his investigation and give them an adequate explanation. No need to be broad, but try to go deeper Exhaustiveness: the linguist should gather all the materials relevant to his investigation and give them an adequate explanation. No need to be broad, but try to go deeper Consistency: no contradiction between different parts of the total statement. Consistency: no contradiction between different parts of the total statement.

29. Economy: shorter statements or analysis is preferred to longer or more involved one. The best statements are the shortest possible which can account most fully for all facts. Economy: shorter statements or analysis is preferred to longer or more involved one. The best statements are the shortest possible which can account most fully for all facts. Objectivity: a linguist should be as objective as possible in his description and analysis of data, allowing no prejudice to influence his generalizations. Objectivity: a linguist should be as objective as possible in his description and analysis of data, allowing no prejudice to influence his generalizations.

30. 1.9 The scope of linguistics CORE TOPICS (language itself): Phonetics( 语音学） : the study of characteristics of speech sounds, their description, classification and transcription Phonology ( 音韵学 ): the sound systems of language. Morphology ( 词法形态学 ): the structure of words. Syntax ( 句法学 ): the structure of sentences. Semantics ( 语义学 ): the meaning of words and sentences.

31. OTHER TOPICS (applied linguistics): pragmatics( 语用学 ):language in context Socio-linguistics ( 社会语言学 ): language in society. Psycholinguistics ( 心理语言学 ): the psychology of language, including how language is acquired by children. Neuro-linguistics ( 神经语言学 ): language and the brain. Computational linguistics ( 计算语言学 ): language and computers.

33. Some practical uses of linguistics: Language learning and language teaching Translating& machine translation Developing the writing system of a language Helping children with speech problems Helping brain-damaged patients Human-computer communication Improving relations in society Saving dying languages and cultures Understanding history Understanding "human nature"

34. 1.10 Basic distinctions in linguistics Speech and writing:Which comes first? Speech and writing:Which comes first? Speech primacy: Speech is prior to writing historically. It existed long before writing systems came into being. Speech primacy: Speech is prior to writing historically. It existed long before writing systems came into being. Children learn speaking first without difficulty Children learn speaking first without difficulty The same is not true for writing. The same is not true for writing. Written forms represent the individual sounds.e.g Alphabetic (English, French,etc), Syllables (Japanese), Logographic (Chinese) Written forms represent the individual sounds.e.g Alphabetic (English, French,etc), Syllables (Japanese), Logographic (Chinese)

35. Descriptive and prescriptive Descriptive( 描述性） : Linguistic study describes and analyzes facts observed. Descriptive( 描述性） : Linguistic study describes and analyzes facts observed. E.g What is in language? E.g What is in language? What people actually say? What people actually say?

36. Prescriptive （规定性） : It aims to set rules for correct behavior. Prescriptive （规定性） : It aims to set rules for correct behavior. E.g What should be in language? What people should say? What people should say? Traditional grammarians are largely prescriptive. Modern linguists are mostly descriptive Traditional grammarians are largely prescriptive. Modern linguists are mostly descriptive

37. Synchronic and diachronic Synchronic( 共时） : the description of a language at some point in time e.g study of features of Shakespeare English Diachronic （历时） : the description of a language as it changes through time. E.g the study of old English, Middle English and modern English

38. Synchronic study enjoys priority over diachronic study It ’ s difficult to describe the changes that have taken place in all stages of development. It ’ s difficult to describe the changes that have taken place in all stages of development. Synchronic study describes the present state of a language. Sounds more reasonable. Most linguistic studies are of this type. Synchronic study describes the present state of a language. Sounds more reasonable. Most linguistic studies are of this type.

39. langue and parole langue( 语言 ): refers to the abstract linguistic system shared by all the members of a speech community. It is the set of conventions and rules which language users all have to abide by. It is relatively stable and systematic.

40. Parole( 言语 ): the actual language or realization of langue. It is the concrete. It is subject to personal and situational constraints. Parole( 言语 ): the actual language or realization of langue. It is the concrete. It is subject to personal and situational constraints. e.g the utterances in a certain situation

41. Competence and performance (By Noam Chomsky in 1950s) Competence( 语言能力 ):the ideal language user ’ s knowledge of the rules of his language. It enables the learner to produce and understand sentences and recognize mistakes.

42. Performance( 语言应用 ): the actual use of this knowledge in linguistic communication. Learner ’ s performance does not always match his competence. It is often influenced by social and psychological factors, e.g pressure, anxiety or embarrassment.

43. 1.11 Knowledge of language What you know about your grammar (competence) is sometimes different from your actual use of language(performance). Linguistic knowledge (competence) is usually unconscious: you don't know that you know it.

44. Fill in the blank with the correct fake word: "Mary really loves to sping. She spings every day. Today she will sping three times. Yesterday she _____ four times."

45. Which of these sentences sounds worse? (1)Mary looked up the strange word she didn't know. (2)Mary looked the strange word she didn't know up.

46. Which of the following English words are fake? (1)blin(5)slak (2)sklent(6)bnep (3)srish(7)trone (4)hiest(8)spipe

47. Where does the stress go in these real English words? phorate (a kind of insect poison) pemmican (food eaten by some American Indians)

48. Which classifier goes with which noun? classifiersnouns 條魚鴨嘴獸 個小蝦狗 隻章魚鸚鵡... 蛇猴子 鱷魚老師 恐龍

49. Which of the following words sound OK? Why do some words sound bad (ungrammatical)? (1) 老師們 (9) 書們 (2) 學生們 (10) 家們 (3) 朋友們 (11) 科學家們 (4) 姐妹們 (12) 石頭們 (5) 老虎們 (13) 猩猩們 (6) 兵們 (14) 狗們 (7) 賊們 (15) 魔鬼們 (8) 小偷們 (16) 洋鬼子們

50. Which sentence sounds better? (1) 我已經把我的汽車賣給我的表哥。 (2) 我已經賣我的汽車給我的表哥。 Where does the tone change in this sentence, and why? 老李想買好酒給我姐姐。

51. Summary Language is rule-governed. All languages have a grammar: the mental "machine" that automatically allows people to remember, produce and understand the morphology, syntax, semantics, phonology, and phonetics of their language.