2.1 The definition of language2.1 The definition of language

The question “what is language?” is comparable with – and, some would say, hardly less profound than – “what is life?” ---John Lyons ---John Lyons

How do you define language?How do you define language?

• 列宁列宁 (( 《论民族自治》《论民族自治》 )) ：： Language is the most iLanguage is the most important tool for human communication.mportant tool for human communication.

• Chomsky(1957): a set of (finite or infinite) of sentChomsky(1957): a set of (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out oences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.f a finite set of elements.

• Sapir(1921): Language is a purely human and noSapir(1921): Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, en-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires by means of voluntarily promotions, and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.duced symbols.

• Language is a Language is a systemsystem of of arbitraryarbitrary vocal svocal symbolsymbols used for used for humanhuman communicationcommunication..

--- --- 胡壮麟胡壮麟

““language” used in various language” used in various contextscontexts(pp.10-11, No. 1)(pp.10-11, No. 1)

•‘‘Chinese is a Chinese is a language language

•Linguistics is the systematic Linguistics is the systematic study of study of languagelanguage. .

•Both Jane and John like Both Jane and John like Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s language.language.

•the the languagelanguage of bees of bees

• Language contributes to the success Language contributes to the success of our everyday life and the survival of our everyday life and the survival of human beings.of human beings.

• Discussion:Discussion:• What functions does language serve for our What functions does language serve for our

life and survival?life and survival?

2.2 The functions of language2.2 The functions of language

• Humans are said to be language animals. But what if Humans are said to be language animals. But what if we humans lived without language?we humans lived without language?

•There are some 6,800 known languages spoken There are some 6,800 known languages spoken in the 200 countries of the world. In 2003, the tin the 200 countries of the world. In 2003, the total number of languages in the world was estiotal number of languages in the world was estimated to be 6,809, of which 2,261 have writing mated to be 6,809, of which 2,261 have writing systems (the others are only spoken). systems (the others are only spoken). What if theWhat if there were only one language the world over?re were only one language the world over?

(P. 11 No. 2)(P. 11 No. 2)

Some common functions of Some common functions of languagelanguage• phatic: 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.

• interrogative: 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 Friendinterpersonal: Tommy, Dear Friend

• recreational: humor; rhyming; punsrecreational: humor; rhyming; puns

• metalinguistic: what I mean is; in other wordsmetalinguistic: what I mean is; in other words

Discussion:

PP. 16-17 No.5

• PP. 12-13 No. 6PP. 12-13 No. 6

2.3 The origin of language2.3 The origin of language

2.4 The defining features of language2.4 The defining features of language

• Also called design features (C. F.Hockett, A Course Also called design features (C. F.Hockett, A Course in Modern Linguistics, 1958)in Modern Linguistics, 1958)

a. creativity

• ““creativity”, sometimes also “productivity”, means the prcreativity”, sometimes also “productivity”, means the property which makes possible the construction and interproperty which makes possible the construction and interpretation of new symbols, i.e. of signals that have not been etation of new symbols, i.e. of signals that have not been previously encountered.previously encountered.

• Of course, the property of creativity is Of course, the property of creativity is rule-governedrule-governed acc according to Chomsky. Thus, the creativity in linguistics is dording to Chomsky. Thus, the creativity in linguistics is different from that in art, which means breaking rules.ifferent from that in art, which means breaking rules.

b. arbitrariness• The term “arbitrary” here means something The term “arbitrary” here means something

inexplicable in terms of some more general principles. inexplicable in terms of some more general principles. It is impossible to predict the meaning from the form, It is impossible to predict the meaning from the form, or vice versa. or vice versa.

wordword

form meaningform meaning

Discuss: P. 12 No. 5

QuestionQuestion::• By this property do we mean that a person can use the laBy this property do we mean that a person can use the la

nguage as freely as we like?nguage as freely as we like?

• How about argot? How about onomatopeic words? [PP. How about argot? How about onomatopeic words? [PP. 11-12 No. 4]11-12 No. 4]

• How about words like How about words like flow, float, flood, fluent, etflow, float, flood, fluent, etc.? c.? [P. 17 No.6] and [P. 17 No.6] and floorfloor? ? flourflour??

• Other examples:Other examples:• J-: joy, jovial, jubilate, joyous, joyful, jubilantJ-: joy, jovial, jubilate, joyous, joyful, jubilant• Gl-: glow, glisten, gleam, glare, glint, glimmer, gliGl-: glow, glisten, gleam, glare, glint, glimmer, gli

ttertter• (p124 HU)(p124 HU)

c. duality of structure/double articulation

• b-o-o-k (meaningless segments: lower level, b-o-o-k (meaningless segments: lower level, secondary) ----> secondary) ---->

• Book (meaningful unit: higher level, primary)Book (meaningful unit: higher level, primary)

• QuestionQuestion: Why is this property generally : Why is this property generally assumed as central to language? Does assumed as central to language? Does animal language have this property? How animal language have this property? How is this related to communicative power?is this related to communicative power?

d. displacement

• This property give rise to the flexibility and This property give rise to the flexibility and versatility of language. Communication by versatility of language. Communication by means of language is constrained neither by means of language is constrained neither by time nor by space.time nor by space.

• QuestionQuestion: What advantages does this property : What advantages does this property of language yield?of language yield?

• How about the other communication systems?How about the other communication systems?

e. cultural transmission• Animal call systems are genetically transmitted. Animal call systems are genetically transmitted. • Language is passed on from one generation to anotheLanguage is passed on from one generation to anothe

r by teaching and learning, rather than by instinct. r by teaching and learning, rather than by instinct.

• QuestionQuestion: Can we deny that human language has a ge: Can we deny that human language has a genetic basis? What is the implication of the story abounetic basis? What is the implication of the story about “wolf child”? What about those patients with neurolt “wolf child”? What about those patients with neurological lesions in areas like Broca area (named after a ogical lesions in areas like Broca area (named after a French scientist) and Wernicke area (named after a GFrench scientist) and Wernicke area (named after a German scientist) [erman scientist) [aphasia] aphasia] ??

What all languages seem to What all languages seem to shareshare

P. 15 No. 12P. 15 No. 12

• 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 the orphan is in Beijing.• A: Sorry I broke your glass.A: Sorry I broke your glass. *B: *B: Thank youThank you..

After gathering adequate materials, each After gathering adequate materials, each group should prepare a 15-minute powgroup should prepare a 15-minute powerpoint-version report and present it in erpoint-version report and present it in class.class.

The PPT needs to be emailed to me a weeThe PPT needs to be emailed to me a week prior to the presentation so that I can k prior to the presentation so that I can offer advice for modification.offer advice for modification.

2.5 The acquisition of language2.5 The acquisition of language

L1 acquisitionL1 acquisition is said to have the is said to have the following features: following features:

a. universally successful;a. universally successful;

b. without explicit instruction (teacher, b. without explicit instruction (teacher, textbook, school, syllabus, etc.);textbook, school, syllabus, etc.);

c. rapid (0-4 years’ old);c. rapid (0-4 years’ old);

d. conditional (i. exposure; ii. critical period d. conditional (i. exposure; ii. critical period 1.5-4years old; iii. no mental deficiency).1.5-4years old; iii. no mental deficiency).

L1 acquisition generally falls into some staL1 acquisition generally falls into some stages:ges: 三躺六坐七爬爬，八个月会踏踏三躺六坐七爬爬，八个月会踏踏

a. babbling period: birth--around 6 months, proda. babbling period: birth--around 6 months, produce some sounds;uce some sounds;

b. syllabic speech period: around 8 months, syllab. syllabic speech period: around 8 months, syllables replace babbled sounds, like [mama];bles replace babbled sounds, like [mama];

c. single-word stage: around 1 year old, first worc. single-word stage: around 1 year old, first words, no grammar; carry out simple commands;ds, no grammar; carry out simple commands;

d. onset of speech: 18 months, more words (3-50 d. onset of speech: 18 months, more words (3-50 words);words);

e. two-word utterances stage: 2 years old, can nae. two-word utterances stage: 2 years old, can name most things around him; begin his own creme most things around him; begin his own creation of two-word phrases (early stage of gramation of two-word phrases (early stage of grammar), pivot words +open words, e.g. mar), pivot words +open words, e.g. Mummy sMummy sockock;;

f. full-understanding stage: 2.5 years old, e.g. f. full-understanding stage: 2.5 years old, e.g. dadaddy kick ballddy kick ball;;

g. near adult-speech: 3 years old; overgeneralizag. near adult-speech: 3 years old; overgeneralization of inflections;tion of inflections;

Going swimming-pool on Sunday. Mummy goed Going swimming-pool on Sunday. Mummy goed to market yesterday. Want to eat.to market yesterday. Want to eat.

h. adult speech: 4 years old.h. adult speech: 4 years old.Are you my brother’s family teacher? glassesAre you my brother’s family teacher? glassesAgriculture.Agriculture.

DiscussDiscuss

PP. 13-14: No. 7, 8, 9PP. 13-14: No. 7, 8, 9

Assignments

1. Review the major points of this lecture.

2. Browse the Internet for some definitions of language and bring at least 2 to class.

Form “ study and research” groups (4-5 personForm “ study and research” groups (4-5 persons for 1 group). Each group draws a topic out of ts for 1 group). Each group draws a topic out of the following:he following:

a. Word formation in English [Week 3]a. Word formation in English [Week 3]b. Interrogative sentences in English [Week 4]b. Interrogative sentences in English [Week 4]c. Phatic communion in English and Chinese [c. Phatic communion in English and Chinese [ 寒暄寒暄 ] [Week ] [Week

5]5]d. The naming of people in English [Week 6]d. The naming of people in English [Week 6]e. Metonymy in English [Week 7]e. Metonymy in English [Week 7]f. Complimenting and responding to compliments in English f. Complimenting and responding to compliments in English

[Week 8][Week 8]g. Strategies for doing face-threatening acts in English [Week g. Strategies for doing face-threatening acts in English [Week

9]9]h. Euphemisms in English [Week 10]h. Euphemisms in English [Week 10]i. The change of English [Week 11]i. The change of English [Week 11]j. Chinglish [Week 12]j. Chinglish [Week 12]

• The members of each group must The members of each group must work together when collecting work together when collecting materials, preparing the PPT, and materials, preparing the PPT, and presenting the report.presenting the report.

• Each presentation is to last about 20 Each presentation is to last about 20 minutes.minutes.

• Each PPT must be sent to the teacher Each PPT must be sent to the teacher for comments and advice ONE weak for comments and advice ONE weak prior to the report.prior to the report.