1、,Important Distinctions in Linguistics,Descriptive vs. PrescriptiveSynchronic vs. DiachronicLangue & ParoleCompetence & Performance,Ferdinand de Saussure 费尔迪南德索绪尔(1857-1913) 现代语言学理论的奠基者。索氏是现代语言学之父,他把语言学塑造成为一门影响巨大的独立学科。他认为语言是基于符号及意义的一门科学。现在一般通称为符号学。,索绪尔注重语言的共时性而有别于19世纪对语言历时性的分析。共时性观点认为某一时间点上的一种语言是自足的
2、功能系统。他对现代语言学的另一个巨大贡献是认为语言学的主要研究对象应该是口语,而不是书面语。他认为“语言是人类话语能力的社会产物,而且它是被社会使用和容许人用这个能力的必要习惯的总和”,而语言结构是受规律支配的、“意义其实是被语言创造出来的”。,Course in General Linguistics 区分了语言(langue)和言语(parole) 他的著名公式是:言语活动=语言+言语。 区分共时( Synchronic )和历时(Diachronic)他指出语言有共时的一面,也有历时的一面,对说话者来说,唯一存在的现实是语言共时的一面。,Descriptive(描写性) vs. Pres
3、criptive(规定性) Descriptive - describe/analyze linguistic facts observed or language people actually use (modern linguistic) People dont say X.,Prescriptive -lay down rules for “correct” linguistic behavior in using language (traditional grammar) Dont say X.,The distinction lies in prescribing how thi
4、ngs ought to be and describing how things are. The nature of linguistics as a science determines its preoccupation with description instead of prescription.,Language changes ; Natural speech-incomplete, utterance,Synchronic (共时性)vs. Diachronic(历时性)A synchronic description takes a fixed instant (usua
5、lly, but not necessarily, the present) as its point of observation. Most grammars are of this kind. Language state Diachronic linguistics is the study of a language through the course of its history. Language changes,The description of a language at some point in time,The description of a language a
6、s it changes through time,One principal in linguistics is the priority of synchronic descriptions. State _ changes,共时语言学与历时语言学的分开,标志着语言学从从印欧语系的比较声韵学走进结构语言学。,Langue & Parole Langue - the abstract linguistic system shared by all members of the speech community. Parole - the realization of langue in ac
7、tual use. Saussure takes a sociological view of language and his notion of langue is a matter of social conventions.,语言(Langue)是指某个言语社团所有成员所共享的抽象的语言体系;抽象 稳定 系统 契约 言语(Parole)则指人们实际使用的语言,或者说是语言的实现。具体 自然发生,Competence(语言能力) & Performance(语言运用) A language users underlying knowledge about the system of ru
8、les is called his linguistic competence. Performance refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations.,艾弗拉姆诺姆乔姆斯基博士(Avram Noam Chomsky,1928年12月7日)是麻省理工学院语言学的荣誉退休教授。乔姆斯基的生成语法被认为是20世纪理论语言学研究上最伟大的贡献。他还通过对伯尔赫斯弗雷德里克斯金纳的口头行为的评论,发动了心理学的认知革命,挑战在1950年代占主导地位的行为主义者学习精神和语言的方式。他那自然的学习语言的方法也对语言和精神的哲学起了
9、很大的影响。,诺姆乔姆斯基(Noam Chomsky, 1928-),美国语言学家,转换-生成语法的创始人。 语言能力和语言运用语言 言语,Chomsky looks at language from a psychological point of view and to him competence is a property of the mind of each individual. While Saussure looks at language more from a sociological point of view.,Diachronic linguistics distinguishes four phases of English: old English, middle English , early modern English and present-day English (or modern English ).,Thank You For Listening !,