Chapter 1

Introduction

What is linguistics? 什么是语言学 [A] The definition of linguistics

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language (对语言进行的科学研究) Process of linguistic study: ① Certain linguistic facts are observed, generalization are formed; ② Hypotheses are formulated; ③ Hypotheses are tested by further observations; ④ A linguistic theory is constructed. 普通语言学: [B] The scope of linguistics General linguistics 普通语言学 the study of language as a whole 从整体研究 1.Phonetics: the general study of the characteristics of speech sounds (or the study of the phonic medium of language) (How speech sounds are produced and classified) 2.Phonology : is essentially the description of the systems and patterns of speech sounds in a language. (How sounds form systems and function to convey meaning) 3.Morphology: the study of the way in which morphemes are arranged to form words (how morphemes are combined to form words) 4.Syntax: the study of those rules that govern the combination of words to form permissible sentences (how morphemes and words are combined to form sentences) 5.Semantics: the study of meaning in abstraction 6.Pragmatics: the study of meaning in context of use Sociolinguistics: the study of language with reference to society Psycholinguistics: the study of language with reference to the workings of the mind Applied linguistics: the application of linguistics principles and theories to language teaching and learning Anthropological linguistics, neurological linguistics; mathematical linguistics; mathematical linguistics; computational linguistics

[C] Some important distinctions in linguistics ① Prescriptive vs. Descriptive 规定性与描写性 共时性与历时性(现代英语多研究共时性) ② Synchronic vs. Diachronic 共时性与历时性(现代英语多研究共时性) The description of a language at some point in time; The description of a language as it changes through time.