第3章　語(yǔ)言的屬性

3.1　復(fù)習(xí)筆記

從類人猿、蜜蜂、蟬到斑馬的一切動(dòng)物都能和同類進(jìn)行交際。而人類語(yǔ)言交際系統(tǒng)的復(fù)雜性是任何動(dòng)物交際系統(tǒng)無(wú)法比擬的（當(dāng)然，我們對(duì)動(dòng)物交流方式的理解僅僅是局外人的眼光而已)。

本章要點(diǎn)：

The properties of language

語(yǔ)言的屬性

本章考點(diǎn)：

語(yǔ)言的特有屬性：跨時(shí)空性，任意性，能產(chǎn)性，可分離性，雙重結(jié)構(gòu)性，和文化傳遞性。

本章內(nèi)容索引：

I. Communicative versus informative

1．Communicative signals

2．Informative signals

II. Unique properties

1．Displacement

2．Arbitrariness

3．Productivity

4．Cultural transmission

5．Discreteness

6．Duality

III. Other properties

1．Vocal-auditory channel

2．Reciprocity

3．Specialization

4．Non-directionality

5．Rapid fade

I. Communicative versus informative（交際功能與信息功能）

【考點(diǎn)】區(qū)分交際功能與信息功能

1．Communicative signals（交際信號(hào)）

Communicative signals refer to the behavior used intentionally to provide information.

交際信號(hào)指的是有意使用語(yǔ)言傳遞信息的行為。

2．Informative signals（信息信號(hào)）

Informative signals refer to the behavior that provides information, usually unintentionally.

信息信號(hào)指的是提供信息的行為，通常是無(wú)意的。

II. Unique properties（獨(dú)特屬性）

【考點(diǎn)】名詞解釋&填空

Design features of language refer to the properties unique for human linguistic system, not shared by animals’ communication system.

語(yǔ)言的定義屬性指人類語(yǔ)言系統(tǒng)特有的屬性，是動(dòng)物交際系統(tǒng)所不具備的。

1．Displacement（移位空性）

(1) Definition（定義）

Human language can be used to talk about things and events not present in/removed from the immediate environment. It can be used to refer to past and future time, and to other locations. This property is called displacement.

人類可以用語(yǔ)言自由談?wù)撨^(guò)去、現(xiàn)在和將來(lái)以及別的地方的具體或抽象的事物。這就是語(yǔ)言的移位空性。

(2) Exception to the rule（例外情況）

Animal communication is generally considered to lack this property. However, bee communication has some degree of displacement as a feature, because bee dance can indicate a location some distance away.

動(dòng)物交流一般不包括這一特征，但蜜蜂的交流包含一定程度的跨時(shí)空性，因?yàn)槊鄯淠芡ㄟ^(guò)跳舞來(lái)表示距離較遠(yuǎn)的地方。

2．Arbitrariness(raised by Saussure)（任意性（由索緒爾提出））

It refers to the fact that the forms of linguistic signs bear no natural relationship to their meaning.(Saussure: the linguistic sign(the signifier and the signified)is arbitrary).

任意性指的是語(yǔ)言形式與其意義之間沒(méi)有“自然”聯(lián)系。（索緒爾：語(yǔ)言符號(hào)（所指和能指）是任意的）。

3．Productivity（能產(chǎn)性）

It refers to the property that the finite sounds and vocabulary (linguistic resources) of a language can be used to produce infinite meanings. Language-users can create and understand new expressions and sentences they have never heard of before.

語(yǔ)言的發(fā)音和詞匯（語(yǔ)言資源）是有限的，但是人們能創(chuàng)造出的表達(dá)式是無(wú)限的。語(yǔ)言的使用者能創(chuàng)造并理解他們從未聽過(guò)的新的表達(dá)方式和句子。

4．Cultural transmission（文化傳遞性）

It refers to the process whereby language is passed on from one generation to the next.

Humans are not born with the ability to produce utterances in a specific language. Language is acquired, not inherited.

文化傳遞性指語(yǔ)言代代相傳承的過(guò)程。

人類并不是天生就有會(huì)說(shuō)某一具體的語(yǔ)言的能力。語(yǔ)言是習(xí)得的，不是遺傳而來(lái)的。

5．Discreteness（可分離性）

It refers to the fact that the sounds used in language are linguistically specific and meaningfully distinctive.

語(yǔ)言都有其特定的語(yǔ)音，并且含義與所有其它聲音相區(qū)別，這種屬性即可分離性。

6．Duality（雙重性）

Language is organized at two levels or layers simultaneously. This property is called duality.

①The levels of distinct sounds—secondary units, meaningless.

②The levels of distinct meanings (morphemes/words/sentences/discourses)—primary units, meaningful.

The property of duality makes it possible to use the limited set of distinct sounds to produce a large number of sound combinations which are distinct in meaning. Language users can talk about anything within their knowledge.

語(yǔ)言的組織有兩個(gè)層次，這種屬性被稱作雙重性。

①語(yǔ)音層面——二級(jí)單位、無(wú)意義。

②語(yǔ)義層面（詞素/單詞/句子/語(yǔ)篇）——基本單位、有意義。

雙重性使語(yǔ)言以有限語(yǔ)音產(chǎn)生大量的、意義有區(qū)別的聲音組合。語(yǔ)言使用者可以談?wù)撊魏嗡麄兞私獾臇|西。

III. Other properties（語(yǔ)言的其他屬性）

1．Vocal-auditory channel（聲樂(lè)聽覺(jué)通道）

Human linguistic communication is typically generated via the vocal organs and perceived via the ears.

人類語(yǔ)言交流通常由發(fā)音器官發(fā)出，并通過(guò)耳朵聽到。

2．Reciprocity（相互作用性）

Any speaker/sender of a linguistic signal can also be a listener/receiver.

任何語(yǔ)言符號(hào)的發(fā)出者也可以是語(yǔ)言的接收者。

3．Specialization（專業(yè)性）

Linguistic signals do not normally serve any other type of purpose, such as breathing or feeding.

The sound waves of speech have no function other than to signal meaning (unlike the audible panting of dogs, which has a biological purpose).

語(yǔ)言符號(hào)通常沒(méi)有其他的目的，例如呼吸或喂食。

話語(yǔ)的聲波除了信號(hào)含義，沒(méi)有別的功能（不像狗可聽的見的喘息聲，有其生理功能）。

4．Non-directionality（無(wú)方向性）

Linguistic signals can be picked up by anyone within hearing, even unseen.

語(yǔ)言符號(hào)盡管看不到，可以在聽得見的距離內(nèi)被任何人聽到。

5．Rapid fade（消失速度快）

Linguistic signals are produced and disappear quickly.

Auditory signals are transitory, and do not await the hearer’s convenience (unlike animal tracks, or writing).

語(yǔ)言符號(hào)產(chǎn)生的快，消失的也快。

聽覺(jué)信號(hào)也是轉(zhuǎn)瞬即逝，不管聽話人是否聽到（不像動(dòng)物的足跡或書寫）。