Linguistics

The third week

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.3 Some Major Concepts in Linguistics

Key points 1.3.1 Descriptive and prescriptive gram

mars 1.3.2 Synchronic and diachronic linguist

ics 1.3.3 Langue and parole 1.3.4 Competence and performance 1.3.5 Syntagmatic and paradigmatic rel

ations 1.3.6 Functionalism and formalism

Difficult points

1. Descriptive and prescriptive grammars

2. Synchronic and diachronic linguistics

3. Langue and parole 4. Competence and performance 5. Syntagmatic and paradigmatic re

lations 6. Functionalism and formalism

Descriptive and prescriptive grammars Most modern linguistics is

descriptive. It attempts to describe what people actually say. Traditional grammars told people how to use a language.

As traditional grammars tried to lay down rules, they are often called prescriptive.

Descriptive grammars attempt to tell what is in the language, while prescriptive grammars tell people what should be in the language.

Language changes and develops. The changes should be observed and described. This does not deny that languages have rules.

Synchronic and diachronic linguistics

Language can be studied at a given point in time or over time. When we study language at one particular time, it is called synchronic linguistics.

When we study language developments through time, it is called diachronic or historical linguistics.

Synchronic linguistics focuses on the state of language at any point in history while diachronic linguistics focuses on the differences in two or more than two states of language over decades or centuries.

In the following diagram, axis AB is the synchronic, static axis. It can intersect at any point with XY. The diachronic axis XY has been considered dynamic

d I a c h r o n I c synchronic

In the following diagram, axis AB is the synchronic, static axis. It can intersect at any point with XY. The diachronic axis XY has been considered dynamic

Another four concepts 1. Langue and parole--- F. de. Sauss

ure 2. Competence and performance---

American linguist Noam Chomsky 3. Syntagmatic and paradigmatic re

lations---Saussure 4. Functionalism and formalism

An important distinction between langue and parole (1) Langue refers to the abstract linguistic

system shared by all the members of a speech community. Parole refers to particular realization of langue.

(2) Langue is the social, conventional side of language, while parole is individualized speech.

(3) Langue is the code, and parole is the massage.

(4) Parole is the concrete manifestation of language either through speech or writing. Langue is the abstract knowledge.

Competence and performance According to Chomsky, competence refers t

o the knowledge that native speakers have of their language as a system of abstract formal relations.

while performance refers to their actual linguistic behavior, that is, the actual use of this knowledge.

Chomsky’s competence is a psychological construct and de Saussure’s langue is a set of social conventions.

Syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations The former refers to the horizontal

relationship between linguistic elements, which form linear sequences.

The later means the vertical relationship between forms, which might occupy the same particular place in the structure.

A vivid picture of the two concepts syntagmatic

P A b I t R f I t A h I t D k I t I p I t G s I t M w I t A T I c

A vivid picture of the two concepts syntagmatic p a Nature r Beauty a Love purifies the mind d Honesty I Morality g Education m a t I c

Explainatin of the two pictures Syntagmatic relations are actually position

al relations. That is, the sequential arrangement of sma

ller linguistic forms into larger linguistic forms, e.g. the arrangement of words and phrases into sentences.

Whereas, paradigmatic relations are relations of substitution.

That is, linguistic forms can be substituted for each other in the same position in a word or sentence.

Functionalism and formalism Functionalism or functional linguistics refers to

the study of the forms of language in reference to their social function in communication.

It considers the individual as a social being and investigates the way in which she\he acquires language and uses it in order to communicate with others in her or his social environment.

Functionalism tends to explain the forms of language by attributing a determining role of its function.

This function is presumed to be communication. It holds that the use of language influences its form.

Functionalism and formalism Formalism or formal linguistics is the study of

the abstract forms of language and their internal relations.

It fixed on the forms of languages as evidence of the universals without considering how these forms function in communication and the ways of social life in different communities.

The most outstanding representative of formalism is Noam Chomsky’s transformational-generative grammar.

Assignments

1. What is the difference between a prescriptive and a descriptive approach to language?

2. Please compare and write out the difference between synchronic and diachronic linguistics .