LINGUISTICS
Linguistics (n.) The scientific study of language;
also called linguistic science. (David Crystal:2008)
Linguistics is a comparatively new science, or new, at
least, in the form it has taken in recent years.
The science seeks to answer
the following questions:
(a) what exactly do we know when we know a language
(b) how is this knowledge acquired and
(c) how is such knowledge used? (Petra)
Langage,
Langue & Parole
langage /lFìapè/ (n.) A French
term introduced by Ferdinand de Saussure to refer to the human biological
faculty of speech. (David Crystal:2008)
It is distinguished in his approach from langue,
the language system of a speech community.
langue denotes a system of internalised, shared rules governing a national
language’s vocabulary, grammar, and sound system;
Parole designates actual oral and written communication by a member or members
of a particular speech community.
Contexts in
which linguistics arose
philosophy
(Greece)
language teaching
(Alexandria)
philology (study
of ancient texts, often of sacred nature)
(India, Greece)
Cratylus: a
Socratic dialogue
Protagonists:
Cratylus: words
are natural signs, some names are ‘correct’ others are not
Hermogenes: names
are arbitrary/ conventional
Socrates: middle position: there is such a thing as a
correct name, but names may be corrupted, and yet be used
Etymology of theos
‘god’
Socrates: It
seems to me that the first inhabitants of Greece believed only in those gods in
which many foreigners still believe today – the sun, the moon, earth, stars and
sky. And, seeing that these were always moving or running, they gave them the
name ‘theoi’ because it was their nature to run (thein).
Modern View (F.
de Saussure)
words and expressions are basically conventional: arbitrary by agreement in
a speech community
no Humpty-Dumpty
partial motivation of signs possible:
- when they are complex
- onomatopoetic words
- (maybe) sound symbolism
What is language?
• A system of
symbols with standard meanings.
• Allows humans
to communicate and is the main vehicle of transmission of culture.
• Language
provides context for symbolic understanding.
Other Communication
Human:
– Direct
• Body language (kinesics), tone of voice,
personal space (proxemics), gesture
– Indirect
•
Writing, mathematics, music, painting, signs
Nonhuman:
– Sounds, odors,
body movements
– Call systems,
ethologists
– ASL – American
Sign Language
American Sign Language taught to chimps and gorillas
– Physiologically
and developmentally similar to humans.
– Chimps taught:
Lana, Nim, Kanzi, Washoe
– Gorillas
taught: Koko
