1、,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Macro-teaching Objectives:,Through the teaching of basic Linguistics knowledge, basic theory, as well as some research methodologies to enable students to have a preliminary understanding of modern linguistics. The course is designed to improve their language cu
2、ltivation, and verbal communication with the initial results of scientific research capacity.,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Micro-teaching Objectives:,I. Get some idea about the 3 theories of the origin of language,II. Know something about the 7 main function
3、s of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Teaching Materials,I. The origin of language1. The divine-origin theory2. The invention theory3. The evolutionary theory,II. The function of language1. The 6 components of language events2. Informative function3. In
4、terpersonal function4. Performative 5. Emotive function6. Phatic communion7. Recreational function8. Metalingual function,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Teaching time allotment,The 2nd Period: Functions,The 1st Period: Origins,Hubei University of Economics-L.X
5、,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,I. Origin of Language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. The divine-origin theory Genesis: According to Christian belief, God gave Adam the power to name all things. “So he (God) took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then
6、 he brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and that is how they got their names. So the man named all the birds and the animals”,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. The divine-origin theory “And the lord said, Behold, the people is one. And they
7、 have all one language; this they begin to do; and now nothing be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”,I. Origin of Language,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. The divine-origin theory Similar beliefs are found throughout the world. Egyptians
8、would believe that the creator of speech was the god Nabu. The Hindus would say we owe our speech to the goddess Sarasvati.,I. Origin of Language,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,I. Origin of Language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. The divine-origin theory People attributed the creation of
9、 language to various gods because of the magical properties they believed language had. Some people believed the power of curse. These can never become scientific claims. But they do show how important language has been to mankind.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L
10、.X,2. The invention theory (three sub-types)Some people say the earliest form of language was imitative of various animals, the onomatopoeic wordsare the evidence of this believethe bow-wow theory.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,2. The invention theory (three
11、sub-types)Some other people believe that language came from humans “cries of nature”ejaculations of pain, fear, surprise, pleasure, anger, and so onthe pooh-pooh theory.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,2. The invention theory (three sub-types)Still others sugge
12、sted that language arose out of the rhythmic grunts of men working together. “There is every reason to believe that speech originated in productive activity ” the “yo-he-yo” theory. But all three sub-type theories are not fully tested, the debate is still going on.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture
13、 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,3. The evolutionary theoryMore recently, scholars are concerned with the relationship between the development of language and the evolutionary development.Some stress the highly developed cognitive abilities, saying that children are born with both thought and la
14、nguage.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,3. The evolutionary theoryOthers emphasize the development of the physical apparatus for speech, notably the vocal tract and the flexibility of the tongue.Still others believe that in the final analysis it is labor that c
15、reated the necessity for occurrence of language.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,I. Origin of Language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,In the long process of evolution, man gradually stood up, finding a freer use of the lungs and the vocal cords, and more room for the movement of the vocal or
16、gans. This occurred alongside changes in the brain and the nervous system towards greater complexity. In getting fellow members closer and closer to organize the most primitive society, men-in-the-making found themselves engaged in more joint activities, which demanded cooperation and communication
17、among the members.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,I. Origin of Language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,3. The evolutionary theoryIt was under this strong urge that men began to communicate. In whatever version, the evolutionary theory is only a hypothesis in an outline form; the specific pr
18、ocesses are still to be explained. One thing we can say for certain is that language evolves within specific historical, social and cultural contexts. Chinese is regarded as the primeval language.,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,Jacobsons six components of language events
19、 : context, speaker, addressee, message, code, contact. Accordingly Jacobson identifies six language functions: Referential function: to convey message and information (informative function). Poetic function: to indulge in language for its own sake. Emotive function: to express attitudes, feelings a
20、nd emotions. Conative function: to persuade and influence others through commands and entreaties (requests). Phatic function: to establish communion with others Metalingual function: to clear up intentions, words and meanings.,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,* In Halliday
21、s early works, he suggested 7 language functions according to the observation of childrens activities. These 7 functions are: instrumental function; regulatory function; representational function; interactional function; personal function; heuristic function; imaginative function; * Hallidays theory
22、 of metafunctions of language: Ideational function: constructs a model of experience and constructs logical relations. Interpersonal function: enacts social relationships Textual function : creates relevance to context,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,Language has to serve
23、 various purposes as there are different types of occasions for using it. The infinite number of uses can, however, be reduced to a short list of basic functions. Language has at least seven basic functions: Informative function, Interpersonal function Performative function, Emotive function Phatic
24、communion, Recreational function Metalingual function ,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. Informative function: The informative function is predominantly the major role of language for most people. It is to tell what the speaker believ
25、es, to inform about facts, or to reason things out. e.g.* I think the film is very instructive.* It was fine yesterday. * Water boils at 212 degree Fahrenheit.* According to what we learned in Chapter two, we know that the language what we call English now is derived basically from Anglo-Saxon with
26、a great deal borrowings from various other languages in the world.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,1. Informative function:Language serves for the expression of content, that is, of the speakers experience of the real world, including
27、the inner world of his own consciousness. In serving this function, language also gives structure to experience, and to determine our way of looking at things, so it requires some intellectual effort to see them in any other way than that which our language suggests to us.,Linguistics: A Course Book
28、 Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,2. Interpersonal function: The most important sociological use of language is the interpersonal function, by which people establish and maintain their status in a society.e.g. Dear Sir (very formal)Dear ProfessorJonny (pet name)Y
29、oursyour obedient servant etc.These examples reveal the relationship among people.,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,3. Performative function: language can be used to “do things”, to perform actions. On certain occasions, the uttering of the appropriate words is the central
30、 component in the performance of the act. e.g. At a meeting, as soon as the chairman says :“I declare the meeting open”, the meeting has started.When the judge says in the court: “I sentence you to ten years of hard labor”, the criminal is sentenced.The priest says: “you two now are husband and wife
31、”, then the young couple get married.,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,4. Emotive function: The emotive function of language is one of the Most powerful uses of language because it is so crucial in changing the emotive status of an audience for oragainst someone or somethi
32、ng. The simplest examples are exclamations like:“Good heavens!”“My God!”More complex ones are sentences like “Im extremely sorry about”“Were most grateful for ”,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,5. Phatic communion: The phatic function r
33、efers to language used for establishing an atmosphere or Maintaining social contact rather than for exchanging information or ideas. Greetings, farewells, and comments on the weather serve this function.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X
34、,5. Phatic communion: For example:“A nice day, isnt it?” does not inform the hearer about the weather, for it is a fact he himself can see. But it does make the hearer feel good because the sentence shows that the relationship between them remains what it was. Useless as phatic language may appear,
35、its importance is immediately shown if it is omitted. If one does not say “Hello!” to a friend, the consequence can be at times very serious.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,6. Recreational function: Little babies sound babbling that d
36、oesnt mean anything. The child is not communicating to anything to anybody. Hes simply having fun, making noises, which develops in adults, of course, into poetry and literature and so on. So there is the aesthetic aspect of language that we take pleasure in language, that is, people enjoy language.
37、 The recreational function is restrictive in purpose and supposedly limited in usefulness, but people can not deny it (poetic function).,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,7. Metalingual function:Metalingual function is to use language to
38、 talk about language itself. Such as paraphrase.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,* 8. Directive Questions: Can you give me some imperative sentences? * What would you do if somebody said to you “shut the door, please” or “Dont touch th
39、at flower” or “Do have a cup of coffee”? Definition:When language is used to get the hearer do something , it serves a directive function.The directive use of language sometimes discourage the hearer and sometimes with the hearer as the beneficiary.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions
40、 of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,* 9 Interrogative function: when used to get information from others, it serves an interrogative function. This includes all questions that expect answers, such as “When did he arrive?”, “What is it like?”. The questions typically focus on the hearers b
41、eliefs, opinion, knowledge, judgment, and sometimes feelings and attitudes: “What do you think of it?”, “How do you feel now?” and other forms are quite commonly used.,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,II. Functions of language,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,* 9 Interrogative function: Rhetori
42、cal questions, however, do not have interrogative function, as they do not expect answers. They are often statements in question forms with a stronger force than statements. So in terms of function, they belong to informative statements or expressive ones.,Hubei University of Economics-L.X,See you !,Thank You for Being with Me,Linguistics: A Course Book Lecture 2,
