文档介绍：一、定义

Linguistics is generally defined as the scientific study of language.
Linguistics
The study of language as a whole is often called General linguistics.

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
语言是人类用来交际的任意性的有声符号体系。
Features
It refers to the defining poperties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication.
语言识别特征是指人类语言区别与其他任何动物的交际体系的限定性特征。
Arbitrariness任意性
Productivity多产性
Duality双重性
Displacement移位性
Cultural transmission文化传递
⑴arbitrariness
There is no logical connection between meanings and sounds.
the arbitrary nature of language is a sign of sophistication and it makes it
possible for language to have an unlimited source of expressions
⑵Productivity
Animals are quite limited in the messages they are able to send.
⑶Duality
Language is a system, which consists of two sets of structures ,or two levels.
⑷Displacement
Language can be used to refer to contexts removed from the immediate situations of the speaker.
⑸Cultural transmission
Human capacity for language has a genetic basis, but we have to be taught and learned the details of any language system. this showed that language is culturally transmitted. not by instinct. animals are born with the capacity to produce the set of calls peculiar to their species.

Competence is the ideal user’s knowledge of the rules of his language.

Performance is the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.
语言运用是所掌握的规则在语言交际中的体现。
linguistics
The study of language change through time. a diachronic study of language is a historical study, which studies th
e historical development of language over a period of time.
linguistics
The study of a given language at a given time.

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