语言学是对语言的系统研究,对于一个学习英语的人来说,应该懂一点语言学的知识,它可以在理论上对学习语言有指导作用,有助于更好的学习语言,下面介绍一点语言学知识.

　　I.Introduction

　　1.WhatisLanguage

　　Languageisasystemofarbitraryvocalsymbolsusedforhumancommunication.

　　2.WhatisLinguistics(语言学)

　　Linguisticsisthescientificstudyoflanguage.

　　3.SomeBasicDistinctions(区分)inLinguistics

　　3.1SpeechandWriting

　　Onegeneralprinciple(原则)oflinguisticanalysisistheprimacyofspeechoverwriting.Writinggiveslanguagenewscope(范畴)andusesthatspeechdoesnothave.

　　3.2Descriptive(描述性)orPrescriptive(说明性)

　　Alinguisticstudyisdescriptiveifitdescribesandanalysesfactsobserved;itisprescriptiveifittriestolaydownrulesfor"correct"behavior.

　　3.3Synchronic(共时)andDiachronic(历时)Studies

　　ThedescriptionofalanguageatsomepointintimeisasynchronicstudyandThedescriptionofalanguageasitchangesthroughtimeisadiachronicstudy.

　　3.4Langue(语言)andParole(言语)

　　ThisisadistinctionmadebytheSwisslinguistF.DeSaussure(索绪尔）earlylastcentury.languereferstotheabstractlinguisticsystemsharedbyallthemembersofaspeechcommunityandparolereferstotheactualized(实际的)language,orrealizationoflangue.

　　3.5Competence(能力)andPerformance(行为)

　　Competenceistheideallanguageuser'sknowledgeoftherulesofhislanguage.Performanceistheactualrealizationofthisknowledgeinutterances(发声).

　　4.TheScopeofLinguistics

　　Generallinguisticsisthestudyoflanguageasawhole.

　　Phonetics(语音学)isthebranchoflinguisticswhichstudiesthecharacteristicsofspeechsoundsandprovidesmethodsfortheirdescription,classificationandtranscription.

　　Phonology(音韵学)isthebranchoflinguisticswhichstudiesthesoundpatternsoflanguages.

　　Morphology(词法)isthebranchoflinguisticswhichstudiestheformofwords.

　　Syntax(句法)isthebranchoflinguisticswhichstudiestherulesgoverningthecombinationofwordsintosentences.

　　Semantics(语义学)isthebranchoflinguisticswhichstudiesthemeaningoflanguage.

　　Appliedlinguistics(应用语言学)isthestudyoftheteachingofforeignandsecondlanguages.

　　Sociolinguisticsisthestudyoftherelationshipbetweenlanguageandsociety.

　　Psycholinguisticsisthestudyoftherelationshipbetweenlanguageandthemind.

　　HistoricalLinguistics(历史语言学)isthestudyoflanguagechanges.

　　Anthropologicallinguistics(人文语言学)usesthetheoriesandmethodsofanthropologytostudylanguagevariationandlanguageuseinrelationtotheculturalpatternsandbeliefsofman.

　　Neurolinguistics(神经语言学)studiestheneurologicalbasisoflanguagedevelopmentanduseinhumanbeings.

　　Mathematicallinguistics(数学语言学)studiesthemathematicalfeaturesoflanguage,oftenemployingmodelsandconceptsofmathematics.

　　Computationallinguistics(计算语言学)isanapproachtolinguisticsinwhichmathematicaltechniquesandconcepts(概念)areapplied,oftenwiththeaidofacomputer.

　　II.Phonetics(语音学）

　　1.scopeofphonetics

　　Speechsoundsmaybestudiedfromdifferentangles,thuswehaveatleastthreebranchesofphonetics:

　　Articulatoryphonetics(发音语音学）wemaye