第11章语言学与语言教学
11.1 复习笔记
本章要点：
1. The relation between linguistics and language teaching
语言学与语言教学之间的关系
2. Grammar, input and language learning
语法、输入与语言学习
3. Interlanguage in language teaching
语言教学中的中介语
4. Linguistics and syllabus design
语言学与教学大纲设计
5. Contrastive analysis and error analysis
对比分析与错误分析
6. Corpus linguistics and language teaching
语料库语言学与语言教学
常考考点：
语言学与语言教学的关系；语言学与语言学习；语言学与教学大纲设计；二语学习者的主要障碍；对比分析与错误分析；中介语；语料库语言学与语言教学等。
本章内容索引：
I. Definition of Applied Linguistics
II. The Relation between Linguistics and Language Teaching III. Linguistics and Language Learning
1. Grammar and Language Learning
2. Input and Language Learning
3. Interlanguage in Language Learning
IV. Linguistics and Language T eaching
1. The discourse-based view of language teaching
2. The universal grammar (UG) and language teaching V. Syllabus Design
1. Syllabus and curriculum
2. Theoretical views behind syllabus design
3. Types of syllabus
(1) The structural syllabus
(2) The situational syllabus
(3) The communicative syllabus
(4) The task-based syllabus
4. Current trends in syllabus design
(1) The co-existence of the old and the new
(2) The emphasis on the learning process
(3) The inclusion of non-linguistic objectives in syllabus
(4) The emergency of the multi-syllabus
VI. Contrastive Analysis (CA) and Error Analysis (EA)
1. Contrastive Analysis (CA)
2. Error Analysis (EA)
(1) Error vs. mistake
(2) Different types of errors
3. The procedure of error analysis
(1) Recognition
(2) Description
(3) Explanation
VII. Corpus Linguistics and Language Teaching
1. Types of corpora
(1) General corpora
(2) Specialized corpora
(3) Sample corpora
(4) Monitor corpora
2. Information provided by corpora
(1) Frequency information
(2) Context and co-text information
(3) Grammatical information
(4) Collocation and phraseology information
(5) Pragmatics information
I. Definition of Applied Linguistics (应用语言学的定义)
Broadly speaking, applied linguistics refers to the study of language and linguistics in relation to language-related problems, such as lexicography, translation, etc. Applied linguistics uses information from linguistics with the aim to develop its own theoretical models of areas, such as syllabus design, speech therapy, language planning, stylistics etc. Narrowly speaking, applied linguistics refers to the study of second and foreign language learning and teaching, i.e. the study of language and linguistics in relation to language learning and teaching.
从广义上讲，应用语言学是对语言、语言学与语言相关的问题的研究，例如词典编纂学，翻译等。应用语言学运用来自语言学的信息来发展它自身理论模块部分,例如教学大纲设计，言语治疗，语言规划，文体学等。从狭义上讲，应用语言学是指对第二语言和语言教学的研究，例如研究语言和语言学与语言教学的关系。
II. The Relation between Linguistics and Language Teaching (语言学与语言教学的关系)
Language teaching is a section of applied linguistics and applied linguistics is part (or a branch) of linguistics. Some knowledge of linguistics will not only help language teachers to better understand the nature of language, but also help them better understand how to teach language. Theoretical approaches of language explicitly or implicitly inform the approaches and methods adopted in language
teaching.
【考点：语言学与语言教学对于语言的不同看法】
语言教学是应用语言学的一个部分，而应用语言学又是语言学的一个分支。掌握一些语言学的知识不仅有助于这些读者进一步认识语言本质，也有助于他们更加深入地理解如何教好语言。语言学理论直接地或间接地影响着语言教学的途径和方法。
III. Linguistics and Language Learning (语言学与语言学习)
Many language learning theories are proposed based on certain linguistic theories. Actually, knowledge in linguistics lies at the root of understanding what language learners can learn, how they learn and what they learn ultimately. Therefore, linguistics has always played an important role in the studies of language acquisition and learning.
许多语言学习理论都是基于某种语言学理论提出的。事实上，语言学知识能够使我们真正理解学习者能够学习什么样的语言，怎样学习语言以及最终能够学到什么。因此，语言学在语言习得研究和语言学习研究中一直起着十分重要的作用。
1. Grammar and Language Learning (语法与语言学习)
The discrete-point grammar instruction conducted by more traditional language teachers has been widely criticized for focusing on forms and ignoring meanings. A recent movement called “focus on form” seems to be the outcome of the compromise between the “purely form-focused approaches”and the “purely meaning-focused approaches”. It has a more balanced view on the role of
grammar in language teaching.
The relevance of Universal Grammar (UG) and complexity language structures are the two variables concerning the amenability of language elements to focus on form. According to the advocates of focus on form, if an L2 structure is part of UG, the amenability is high; otherwise, the amenability is low. In focus on form, different measures will be taken with a regard to whether the amenability of a form (structure) is high or low.
很多传统的语言教师将语法割裂为孤立的语法知识点来分别讲解，这种做法已经受到广泛的批评，因为它仅仅关注语言形式而忽略了语言的意义。作为“完全以语言形式为中心”和“完全以语言意义为中心”的折中途径，近年来出现的“关注语言形式”(focus on form)对语言学习中语法的作用采取了一种折中的态度。
主要有两个变量影响语言成分在“关注语言形式”中的顺从性，即普遍语法(UG)的相关度和语言结构的复杂度。“关注语言形式”的支持者们认为，如果二语中的某个结构是普遍语法的一部分，它的顺从性就高；否则，顺从性则低。在“关注语言形式”的教学中，我们会根据语言结构顺从性的高与低来采取不同的措施。
2. Input and Language Learning (输入和语言学习)
Evidently, language learning can take place when the learner has enough access to input in the target language. This input may come in written or spoken form. In the case of spoken input, it may occur in the context of interaction (i.e. the learner attempts to converse with a foreign speaker, a teacher, or another learner) or in the context of non-reciprocal discourse (for example, listening to the music or
Chapter 1 Invitations to Linguistics 1.3 Design features of language The features that define our human languages can be called design features which can distinguish human language from any animal system of communication. 1.3.1 Arbitrariness Arbitrariness refers to the fact that the forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meanings. 1.3.2 Duality Duality refers to the property of having two levels of structures, such that units of the primary level are composed of elements of the secondary level and each of the two levels has its own principles of organization. 1.3.3 Creativity Creativity means that language is resourceful because of its duality and its recursiveness. Recursiveness refers to the rule which can be applied repeatedly without any definite limit. The recursive nature of language provides a theoretical basis for the possibility of creating endless sentences. 1.3.4 Displacement Displacement means that human languages enable their users to symbolize objects, events and concepts which are not present (in time and space) at the moment of conversation. 加1 Each sound in the language is treated as discrete. 加2 the direct/non-arbitrary/non-symbolic relation between meaning and form. There are resemblances between the language form and what they refer to. That relationship is called icon. Iconicity exists in sounds, lexicons and syntax. It is the motivation between language forms and meanings. It is a relation of resemblance between language form and what they refer to. 1.5 Functions of language As is proposed by Jacobson, language has six functions: 1. Referential: to convey message and information; 2. Poetic: to indulge in language for its own sake; 3. Emotive: to express attitudes, feelings and emotions; 4. Conative: to persuade and influence others through commands and entreaties; 5. Phatic: to establish communion with others; 6. Metalingual: to clear up intentions, words and meanings. three metafunctions: 1. function: to convey new information, to communicate a content that is
Chapter 2 Speech sounds Contents ?How sounds are made? ?Consonants and vowels ?Phonological processes, phonological rules and distinctive features ?Suprasegmentals 超音段 ?Two major areas for studying speech sounds: phonetics and phonology ?Phonetics: it studies how speech sounds are made, transmitted and perceived. ?Three branches of phonetics: ?Articulatory phonetics发声语音学 is the study of the production of speech sounds. ?Acoustic phonetics声学语音学 is the study of the physical properties of the sounds produced in speech. Auditory phonetics听觉语音学 is concerned with the perception of speech sounds ?Phonology：it deals with the sound system of a language by treating phoneme 音素 as the point of departure. ?It studies the sound patterns and sound systems of languages. ?Ultimately it aims to discover the rules that underlie the sound patterns of all languages. How speech sounds are made? ? speech organs 言语器官 ?Speech organs are also known as vocal organs（发音器官）. ?Parts of human body involved in the production of speech sounds: lungs, trachea (windpipe) 气管, throat, nose, mouth ? organs of speech (Figure 2.2, p.26 on our books)
《普通语言学教程》索绪尔 绪论 第一章语言学史一瞥 语法（规范）-语文学（过于注重书面语）-比较语文学或比较语法（只比较）-新语法学派（语言集团集体精神的产物） 第二章语言学的材料和任务；与毗邻科学的关系 语言学的任务是：a 对一切能够得到的语言进行描写并整理他们的历史，尽可能重建每个语系的母语；b 寻求在一切语言中永恒地普遍地起作用的力量，整理出能概况一切历史特殊现象的一般规律；c 确定自己的界限和定义。它与社会心理学、生理学、语文学相关。语言学也有实际用途，特别是对于那些利用文献的人，另外对一般修养也很重要。 第三章语言学的对象 定义——在任何时候，语言都是现行制度和过去的产物。我们的研究方法是一开始就站在语言的阵地上，把它当做言语活动的其他一切表现的准则。语言和言语活动不能混为一谈，它只是言语活动的一个确定的部分，而且当然是一个主要部分，它既是言语机能的社会产物，又是社会集团为了使个人有可能行使这机能所采用的一整套必不可少的规约。语言本身是一个整体，一个分类的原则。它是一种约定俗成的东西，人们同意使用什么符号，这符号的性质是无关轻重的。对人类天赋的不是口头的言语活动，而是构成语言——即一套和不同的观念相当的不同的符号——的机能。人们说话的机能——不管是天赋的或非天赋的——只有借助于集体所创造和提供的工具才能运用，所以，说语言使言语活动成为统一体，绝不是空想。 语言在言语活动事实中的地位——言语循环重建：心理现象-生理过程-物理过程-生理过程-
心理现象 （c-i）这一主动过程称为执行部分，（i-c）这一被动过程称为接受部分，此外还有联合和配置的机能。语言是社会的、主要的，言语是个人的、偶然的、从属的。 语言的特征是：1 他是言语活动事实的混杂的总体中的一个十分确定的对象，是言语的社会部分。2 语言是人们能够分出来加以研究的对象。3 言语是异质的，而规定下来的语言是同质的，它是一种符号系统，在系统中，只有意义和音响形象的结合是主要的，符号的两个部分都是心理的。4 语言这个对象在具体性上比言语毫不逊色。即是音响形象的堆叠，又可转为文字。 语言在人文事实中的地位：符号学——语言是一种表达观念的符号系统。符号在本质上是社会的。 第四章语言的语言学和言语的语言学
Literary linguistics studies the language of literature. It focuses on the study of linguistic features related to literary style. 9.1 Theoretical background
9.2.1 Foregrounding and grammatical form 9.2.2 Literal language and figurative language Simile Metaphor Metonymy Synecdoche 9.2.3 The analysis of literary language
9.3.1 Sound patterning 9.3.2 Different forms of sound patterning Rhyme Alliteration Assonance Consonance Reverse rhyme Pararhyme Repitition
-Metre(Dimetre, Trimetre, Tetrametre, Hexametre, Heptametre, Octametre) -Foot (Iamb, Trochee, Anapest, Dactyl,Spondee, Pyrrhic) 9.3.4 Conventional forms of metre and sound Couplets Quatrains Blank verse Sonnet 9.3.5 The poetic functions of sound and metre 9.3.6 How to analyse poetry?
第11章第二语言和外语教学 11.1 复习笔记 本章要点： 1. The relation between linguistics and language teaching 语言学与语言教学之间的关系 2. Grammar, input and language learning 语法、输入与语言学习 3. Interlanguage in language teaching 语言教学中的中介语 4. Linguistics and syllabus design 语言学与教学大纲设计 5. Contrastive analysis and error analysis 对比分析与错误分析 6. Corpus linguistics and language teaching 语料库语言学与语言教学 常考考点： 语言学与语言教学的关系；语言学与语言学习；语言学与教学大纲设计；二语学习者的主要障碍；对比分析与错误分析；中介语；语料库语言学与语言教学等。
本章内容索引： I. Definition of Applied Linguistics II. The Relation between Linguistics and Language Teaching III. Linguistics and Language Learning 1. Grammar and Language Learning 2. Input and Language Learning 3. Interlanguage in Language Learning IV. Linguistics and Language T eaching 1. The discourse-based view of language teaching 2. The universal grammar (UG) and language teaching V. Syllabus Design 1. Syllabus and curriculum 2. Theoretical views behind syllabus design 3. Types of syllabus (1) The structural syllabus (2) The situational syllabus (3) The communicative syllabus (4) The task-based syllabus 4. Current trends in syllabus design (1) The co-existence of the old and the new (2) The emphasis on the learning process
《普通语言学教程》读书笔记 10级汉语3班徐星星100322 本书著者是本世纪最著名、影响最深远的语言学家之一费尔迪南·德·索绪尔，在本书中，他对欧美语言学界所接触到的各种有关原理和方法的问题都作了总结，并且提出了自己独到的见解。这本书的影响也遍及世界。 首先在绪论的第三章中，索绪尔向我们阐释了语言的定义： 语言是一种约定俗成的东西，人们同意使用什么符号，这符号的性质是无关轻重的。即一套和不同的观念相当的不同的符号。人们说话的机能只有借住集体创造和提供的工具才能运用，不管是天赋的或非天赋的。所以说，说语言使言语活动成为统一体，那绝不是什么空想。在索绪尔看来。语言是语言共同成员中的语法体系，言语则是人们平时说的那些话，是依赖于语法系统的说话行为。言语是语言的体现。语言学研究实际语言行为中所潜藏的形式系统，因此，在索绪尔看来，语言学的对象是语言而不是言语。 索绪尔认为，把语言和言语分开，我们就把什么是社会的，什么是个人的，什么是主要的，什么是从属的和偶然的区分开来了。照此看来，语言学家主要的研究对象应该是“语言”、确定构成“语言”的单位及其组合规则，而不是去描写言语活动。“语言”是一个符号的系统，在这个系统中，只有意义和音响的形象的结合是主要的。 索绪尔为了确立语言学的研究对象，区分出“语言”和“言语”，他的“语言”和“言语”理论不仅对本世纪的语言研究的方法产生了深刻的影响，而且还影响着文学和符号学研究。 在第一编中，索绪尔指出语言是一个符号系统。语言是符号学的一部分，他强调语言具有一般符号系统的主要特征。语言与其他一切同类的的符号系统有以下几点共同点。一是目的相同，各种符号系统虽然采用的手段不同，复杂程度不同，但目的都是一样的，都是为了传递信息。二是它们的内涵相同，一切符号系统之所以能传递信息是因为它们与意义相联系。意义是符号的内涵，是符号在使用该系统的人在头脑中激发的概念。三是构成元素相同，无论使用
英语语言学教程（胡壮麟版） Chapter one. Invitation to Linguistic. 1.What is language? “Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged systematically, rather than randomly. Arbitrary, in the sense that there is usually no intrinsic connection between a work (like “book”) and the object it refers to. This explains and is explained by the fact that different languages have different “books”: “book” in English, “livre” in French, “shu” in Ch inese. It is symbolic, because words are associated with objects, actions, ideas etc. by nothing but convention. Namely, people use the sounds or vocal forms to symbolize what they wish to refer to. It is vocal, because sound or speech is the primary medium for all human languages. Writing systems came much later than the spoken forms. The fact that small children learn and can only learn to speak (and listen) before they write (and read) also indicates that language is primarily vocal, rather than written. The term “human” in the definition is meant to specify that language is human specific. 2.Design Features of Language. “Design features” here refer to the defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human language and any system of animal communication. They are arbitrariness, duality, productivity, displacement, cultural transmission and interchangeability (1)Arbitrariness: By “arbitrariness”, we mean there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. (2)Duality: The property of having two levels of structures (phonological and grammatical), units of the primary level being composed of elements of the secondary level and each level having its own principles of organization. (3)Productivity: Productivity refers to the ability to the ability to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of sentences in one’s native language, including those that has never heard before, but that are appropriate to the speaking situation. The property that enables native speakers to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of utterances, including utterances that they have never previously encountered. (4)Displacement: “Displacement”, as one of the design features of the human language, refers to the fact that one can talk about things that are not present, as easily as he does things present. In other words, one can refer to real and unreal things, things of the past, of the present, of the future. Language itself can be talked about too. (5)Cultural transmission: This means that language is not biologically transmitted from generation to generation, but that the details of the linguistic system must be learned anew by each speaker. (6)Interchangeability: Interchangeability means that any human being can be both a producer and a receiver of messages. 3.Functions of Language. Language has at least seven functions: phatic, directive, Informative, interrogative, expressive, evocative and performative. (1)Phatic function: The “phatic function” refers to language being used for setting up a certain atmosphere or maintaining social contacts (rather than for exchanging information or ideas). Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather in English and on clothing in Chinese all serve this function. (2)Directive function: The “directive function” means that language may be used to get the hearer
Chapter 6 Language Processing in Mind 6.1 Introduction 1. Language is a mirror of the mind in a deep and significant sense. 2. Language is a product of human intelligence, created a new in each individual by operation that lie far beyond the reach of will or consciousness. 3. Psycholinguistics “proper” can perhaps be glossed as the storage, comprehension, production and acquisition of language in any medium (spoken or written). 4. Psycholinguistics is concerned primarily with investigating the psychological reality of linguistic structures. 5. The differences between psycholinguistics and psychology of language. Psycholinguistics can be defined as the storage, comprehension, production and acquisition of language in any medium (spoken or written). It is concerned primarily with investigating the psychological reality of linguistic structures. On the other hand, the psychology of language deals with more general topics such as the extent to which language shapes thought, and from the psychology of communication, includes non-verbal communication such as gestures and facial expressions. 6. Cognitive psycholinguistics: Cognitive psycholinguistics is concerned above all with making inferences about the content of the human mind. 7. Experimental psycholinguistics: Experimental psycholinguistics is mainly concerned with empirical matters, such as speed of response to a particular word. 6.1.1 Evidence 1. Linguists tend to favor descriptions of spontaneous speech as their main source of evidence, whereas psychologists mostly prefer experimental studies. 2. The subjects of psycholinguistic investigation are normal adults and children on the one hand, and aphasics----people with speech disorders-----on the other. The primary assumption with regard to aphasic patient that a breakdown in some part of language could lead to an understanding of which components might be independent of others. 6.1.2 Current issues 1. Modular theory: Modular theory assumes that the mind is structured into separate modules or components, each governed by its own principles and operating independently of others. 2. Cohort theory: The cohort theory hypothesizes that auditory word recognition begins with the formation of a group of words at the perception of the initial sound and proceeds sound by sound with the cohort of words decreasing as more sounds are perceived. This theory can be expanded to deal with written materials as well. Several experiments have supported this view of word
语言学纲要讲义笔记 导言 一、语言的定义 语言是人类最重要的交际工具和思维工具、是由音义结合的词汇和语法构成的一种符号系统。 二、语言学的对象和任务 语言学是研究语言的科学。 要把语言学跟语文学区分开来 中国传统语文学——“小学” 小学是我国古代语文学的统称，由训诂学、文字学、音韵学三部分组成。 在古印度，公元前4世纪，著名学者潘尼尼在整理、注释婆罗门教经典《吠陀》时，写了一本《梵语语法》，提出3996条规则，被人们称为最完备的语法书。在古希腊，伯拉图和亚里斯多德是从哲学的角度来研究语言的，他们讨论了词为什么具有意义等内容。 三、语言学在科学体系中的地位 语言学既是一门古老的科学，又是一门年轻的科学。 1、与社会科学、自然科学的联系 语言研究的成果是哲学、历史学、考古学、文学、政治学、经济学、逻辑学、社会学、民族学、计算机科学等学科所必须利用的，可见语言研究在这些社会科学中已占重要地位。 语言学与其他学科相交叉产生社会语言学、心理语言学、计算语言学、生物语言学、模糊语言学、实验语音学等。如：运用语言传递信息的过程，可分为五个阶段： 编码——发送——传递——接收——解码 对这一具体过程的解释需要结合物理学、生理学、心理学等其他学科的知识。三、语言学的基本类别 总体上，根据研究对象的不同，语言学可以分为理论语言学和应用语言学两大类。（一）理论语言学可分为： 1、一般/普通语言学
2、个别/具体语言学 具体语言学 （1）历时语言学 （2）共时语言学 （二）应用语言学 1、社会语言学：研究语言与社会集团的关系。如地域方言、社会方言、语言的接触、语言规划等。 2、心理语言学：研究儿童语言习得、语言的接收和发生过程，等。 3、神经语言学 最近二十年才从心理语言学中分离出来的一门新的学科，主要研究语言和大脑结构的关系，中心是大脑如何生成语言。 此外，还有数理语言学、统计语言学、实验语音学等。 第一章语言的功能 第一节语言的社会功能 一、语言的信息传递功能 信息传递功能是语言的最基本的社会功能。 人类还借助语言之外的其他形式传递信息，它们是文字，旗语，信号灯，电报代码，数学符号，化学公式等等。 身势等伴随动作等是非语言的信息传递形式。 身势等非语言的形式多半是辅助语言来传递信息； 文字是建立在语言基础之上的最重要的再编码形式； 旗语之类是建立在语言或文字基础之上的再编码形式； 语言是人类社会信息传递第一性的、最基本的手段，是最重要的交际工具。二、语言的人际互动功能 语言的社会功能的另一个重要方面是建立或保持某种社会关联，这就是语言的人际互动功能。互动包括两个方面：一个是说话者在话语中表达自己的情感、态度、意图，另一方面这些又对受话者施加了影响，得到相应的语言或行动上的反馈，从而达到某种实际效果。
胡壮麟语言学笔记无私分享（全；免"支持"版：） 《语言学教程》重难点学习提示 第一章??语言的性质 语言的定义：语言的基本特征（任意性、二重性、多产性、移位、文化传递和互换性）；语言的功能（寒暄、指令、提供信息、询问、表达主观感情、唤起对方的感情和言语行为）；语言的起源（神授说，人造说，进化说）等。 第二章? ?? ?语言学 语言学定义；研究语言的四大原则（穷尽、一致、简洁、客观）；语言学的基本概念（口语与书面语、共时与历时、语言与言学、语言能力与言行运用、语言潜势与语言行为）；普通语言学的分支（语音、音位、语法、句法、语义）；；语言学的应用（语言学与语言教学、语言与社会、语言与文字、语言与心理学、人类语言学、神经语言学、数理语言学、计算语言学）等。 第三章? ?? ?语音学 发音器官的英文名称；英语辅音的发音部位和发音方法；语音学的定义；发音语音学；听觉语音学；声学语音学；元音及辅音的分类；严式与宽式标音等。 第四章? ???音位学 音位理论；最小对立体；自由变异；互补分布；语音的相似性；区别性特征；超语段音位学；音节；重音（词重音、句子重音、音高和语调）等。 第五章? ? 词法学 词法的定义；曲折词与派生词；构词法（合成与派生）；词素的定义；词素变体；自由词素；粘着词素（词根，词缀和词干）等。 第六章? ? 词汇学 词的定义；语法词与词汇词；变词与不变词；封闭词与开放词；词的辨认；习语与搭配。 第七章??句法 句法的定义；句法关系；结构；成分；直接成分分析法；并列结构与从属结构；句子成分；范畴（性，数，格）；一致；短语，从句，句子扩展等。 第八章? ?语义学 语义的定义；语义的有关理论；意义种类（传统、功能、语用）；里奇的语义分类；词汇意义关系（同义、反义、下义）；句子语义关系。 第九章? ?语言变化 语言的发展变化（词汇变化、语音书写文字、语法变化、语义变化）； 第十章??语言、思维与文化 语言与文化的定义；萨丕尔-沃夫假说；语言与思维的关系；语言与文化的关系；中西文化的异同。 第十一章??语用学 语用学的定义；语义学与语用学的区别；语境与意义；言语行为理论（言内行为、言外行为和言后行为）；合作原则。 1.1.??What is language? "Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged systematically, rather than randomly.
英语语言学教程(胡壮麟版) Chapter one. Invitation to Linguistic. 1. What is language? “ Languageis system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. It is a system, since linguistic elements are arranged systematically, rather than randomly. Arbitrary, in the sense that there is usually no intrinsic connection between a work (like “book”) and the object it refers to. This explains a is explained by the fact that different languages have different “ books ”“:book ”in English, “ livre in” French, “shu” ii n eCseh. It is symbolic, because words are associated with objects, actions, ideas etc. by nothing but convention. Namely, people use the sounds or vocal forms to symbolize what they wish to refer to. It is vocal, because sound or speech is the primary medium for all human languages. Writing systems came much later than the spoken forms. The fact that small children learn and can only learn to speak (and listen) before they write (and read) also indicates that language is primarily vocal, rather than written. The term “ human” in the definition is meant to specify that language is human specific. 2. Design Features of Language. “ Design features ” here refer to the defining properties of human language that tell the difference between human language and any system of animal communication. They are arbitrariness, duality, productivity, displacement, cultural transmission and interchangeability (1) Arbitrariness: By “ arbitrariness ”, we mean there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. (2) Duality: The property of having two levels of structures (phonological and grammatical), units of the primary level being composed of elements of the secondary level and each level having its own principles of organization. (3) Productivity: Productivity refers to the ability to the ability to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of sentences in one?s native language, including those that has never heard before, but that are appropriate to the speaking situation. The property that enables native speakers to construct and understand an indefinitely large number of utterances, including utterances that they have never previously encountered. (4) Displacement: “ Displacement ”, as one of the design features of the human language, refers to the fact that one can talk about things that are not present, as easily as he does things present. In other words, one can refer to real and unreal things, things of the past, of the present, of the future. Language itself can be talked about too. (5) Cultural transmission: This means that language is not biologically transmitted from generation to generation, but that the details of the linguistic system must be learned anew by each speaker. (6) Interchangeability: Interchangeability means that any human being can be both a producer and a receiver of messages. 3. Functions of Language. Language has at least seven functions: phatic, directive, Informative, interrogative, expressive, evocative and performative. (1) Phatic function: The “ phaticfunction r”efers to language being used for setting up a certain atmosphere or maintaining social contacts (rather than for exchanging information or ideas). Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather in English and on clothing in Chinese all serve this function. (2) Directive function: The “ directive function ”thamt laenagnusage may be used to get the hearer to do something. Most imperative sentences perform this function, e. g., “Tell me the res you finish. ” (3) Informative function: Language serves an “ informational function ”when used to tell something, characterized by the use of declarative sentences. Informative statements are often labeled as true (truth) or false (falsehood). (4) Interrogative function: When language is used to obtain information, it serves an “ interrogat