LECTURE ONE
INTRODUCTION
LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS
Why does language provide such a fascinating object of study? Perhaps because of its unique role in capturing the breadth of human thought and endeavor. We look around us, and are awed by the variety of several thousand languages and dialects, expressing a multiplicity of world views, literatures, and ways of life. We predecessors and find we can see only as far as language lets us see. We look forward in time, and find we can plan only through language. We look outward in space, and send symbols of communication along with our spacecraft, to explain who we are, in case there is anyone there who wants to know. Alongside this, there is the importance we attach to language, as a means of understanding ourselves and our society, and of resolving some of the problems and tensions that arise from human interactions. No sector of society is unaffected, and all can benefit fro
m the study of linguistic factors that constitute a barrier, as well as a means of communication.
LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS
1. Language     
1.1. Definition of language and Design features of language
Language is such an integral part of our life and humanity that too much about it has been taken for granted. (Hu Zhuanglin, Linguistics: A Course Book, 2001:1) It is so common that nobody notice its importance as the seeing person could never consider the importance of his ability of hearing.Then, what is language? And what are the functions of it?
Common views:
1) Language is a means of communication.
2) Language has a form-meaning correspondence.
3) The function of language is to exchange information.
4) English is more difficult to learn than Chinese.
5) Black English is not standard and should be reformed.
Etc.
Samples Different Definitions: Dai Weidong, 2002: p8 
1.1.1 A generally accepted definition:
1.1.2 Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
      语言是用于人类交际的任意的声音符号系统。
    ---Dai Wei-dong: A New Concise Course on Linguistics for Students of English, 2002:8
Explanation of the definition: some points to be elaborated:
Systematicality:  Each human language is organized into two basic systems: a system of sounds and a system of meaning. (This is the very feature of duality of language, which will be elaborated later. )
And language must be rule-governed.
Arbitrariness: no logical connections between meanings and sounds.
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
                                ---Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
“名无固宜，约之以命，约定俗成谓之宜，异于约谓之不宜。”
                                --- 荀子：《正名》
Vocality: sound is the primary medium, speech is prior to writing
Symbolicity: words are symbols associated with objects, actions, ideas, etc. by convention.
Humanity: Language is human specific, other animals do not possess the ability of language in a real sense.
1.1.2  Design features of language:
          1) Arbitrariness:
          2) Productivity:
          3) Duality:
          4) Displacement:
          5) Cultural transmission:
          6) Interchangeability:
                    (Dai Weidong, 2002)
1.2. Functions of language:
(胡壮麟:1988)
    1) Phatic：greetings
    2) Directive: commands, orders, Interrogatives used to suggest requests
    3) Informative:
    4) Interrogative:
    5) Expressive:
(胡壮麟:2001)
1) Informative
2) Interpersonal: Euphemism
3) Performative
4) Emotive
5) Phatic
6) Recreational: murmur/ sing to oneself/ poetry
7) Meta-lingual: used to explain language itself, e.g. language used in dictionaries 
Jakobson’s (1960) view of the functions of language: (Hu Zhuanglin, 2001:11)
                      Context
(REFERENTIAL)
Addresser              Message              Addressee
（EVOCATIVE）          (POETIC)          （CONATIVEreplaceable）
                  Contact（PHATIC）
                Code（METALINGUAL）
Functions of language (Yang Xinzhang, 2005:14~20)
General functions:
Physiological function: language can help get rid of nervous or physical energy. It can also be called as the emotive or expressive function of language.
Phatic function
Recording function: Language allows us to record things we wish to remember, either short-term record or long-term record.
Identifying function: allows us to identify, with considerable precision, an enormous array of objects and events. Here language helps to make sense of the world around us.

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