I.

Review
Qs:
1. How do you understand that
linguistics is the scientific study of
language?
2. Whats the difference between
phonetics and phonology?
3. Whats the difference between
semantics and pragmatics?
4. Why is speech considered as the
primary medium of human language?
II. Other Important Distinctions
4. Langue Vs. Parole
Langue: the abstract linguistic
system shared by all members of a
speech community.
Parole: the realization of langue in
actual use.
A Sociological View
Ferdinand de Saussure
(1857-1913), Swiss,
founder of
structuralism,
modern linguistics,
semiology.
Course in General
Linguistics, 1916
5. Competence Vs Performance
Competence: the ideal users
knowledge of the rules of his
language
Performance: the actual realization
of this knowledge in linguistic
communication
A Psychological View
Avram Noam Chomsky
(1928-), founder
of TG(Pp. 42), a
revolution to
structuralism.
LAD- (Pp.145)-
PPH-Universal
Grammar
ST-EST-REST
6. Traditional Grammar VS. Modern
Linguistics
Three Criteria:
1. Exclude linguistic facts such as
we cant , taller than me, etc
2. Use written material as the
material for analysis
3. Apply Latin-based model to other
languages

III. Definition of Language
Question:

Whats
language?
Webster' s New World Dictionary (Pp. 759) [ 1 ]
(a) human speech;
(b)the ability to communicate by this
means;
(c) a system of vocal sounds and
combinations of such sounds to which
meaning is attributed, used for the
expression or communication of
thoughts and feelings;
(d) the written representation of such a
system;
Webster' s New World Dictionary (Pp. 759) [2]
(a) 'any means of expressing or
communicating, as gestures, signs,
or animal sounds;
(b) a special set of symbols; letters,
numerals, rules etc. used for the
transmission of information, as in a
computer; ...
A Generally Accepted Definition
Language is a system of
arbitrary vocal symbols used for
human communication.
Understanding the Definition
QS:
1. Why a system?
2. Why arbitrary?
3. Why vocal?
4. Why symbols?
5. Why human?
6. Why communication?
IV. Functions of Language
Question:
What do you think are the
functions of language?
Elements of Communication: Jakobsons
Model (1960)
Context
Referential

Addresser Message Addressee
Emotive Poetic Conative

Contact
Phatic

Code
Metalingual










Metafunctions of Language: Hallidays
Model
1. Ideational: Constructs a model of
experience and constructs logical
relations ( through transitive system)
(Linguistic Constructionism)
2. Interpersonal: enacts social
relationships (through mood and
modality)
3. Contextual: creates relevance to
context (through coherence and cohesion)
Systemic Functional Linguistics
M. A. K. Halliday
(1925-), founder of
systemic functional
linguistics,1947-1949
studied at Beijing
University, 1949-1950
studied at Ling Nan
University, 1955 got
doctors degree at
Cambridge University
with The Language of
the Chinese Secret
History of the Mongols
Summary of the Functions of
Language
1. Informative :
Language serves an informative
function when it is used to tell what
the speaker believes, to give
information about facts, or to
reason things out.
By use of Declarative Sentences
Summary of the Functions of
Language
2. Interrogative:
When language is used to get
information from others, it serves
an interrogative function

Through Questions that expect
answers.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3. Interpersonal:
Language serves an interpersonal
function when it is used to establish and
maintain their status in a society.
Five sub-categories of interpersonal
function: performative, directive,
emotive, expressive, and phatic.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3.1 Performative: the
use of language to do things, to
perform actions.

Through quite formal and even
ritualized language.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3.2 Directive: When
language is used to get the hearer
do something, it serves a directive
function.

Most Imperative sentences.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3.3 Emotive: the use
of language to create certain
feelings in the hearer.

Through Jokes, Advertising,
Propaganda, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3.4 Expressive: the
use of language to reveal something
about the feelings and attitudes of
the speaker.

Through Exclamations, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
3.5 Phatic: the use of
language to establish an atmosphere
or maintaining social contact.

E.g. Greetings, Farewells, and
Comments on the weather, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
4. Recreational: the
use of language for the sheer joy of
using it.

E.g. babys babbling, poetry, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
5. Metalingual: the use
of language to talk about language itself.

This makes language infinitely self-
reflexive: We human beings can talk
about talk and think about thinking, and
thus only humans can ask what it means
to communicate, to think, to be human.
Home Work
1. Q6, Pp. 12
(written)
2. Prepare the
rest of the
chapter.