第3章　語言的屬性

3.1　復習筆記

從類人猿、蜜蜂、蟬到斑馬的一切動物都能和同類進行交際。而人類語言交際系統的復雜性是任何動物交際系統無法比擬的（當然，我們對動物交流方式的理解僅僅是局外人的眼光而已)。

本章要點：

The properties of language

語言的屬性

本章考點：

語言的特有屬性：跨時空性，任意性，能產性，可分離性，雙重結構性，和文化傳遞性。

本章內容索引：

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】區分交際功能與信息功能

1．Communicative signals（交際信號）

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

交際信號指的是有意使用語言傳遞信息的行為。

2．Informative signals（信息信號）

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

信息信號指的是提供信息的行為，通常是無意的。

II. Unique properties（獨特屬性）

【考點】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.

語言的定義屬性指人類語言系統特有的屬性，是動物交際系統所不具備的。

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.

人類可以用語言自由談論過去、現在和將來以及別的地方的具體或抽象的事物。這就是語言的移位空性。

(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空性，因為蜜蜂能通過跳舞來表示距離較遠的地方。

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).

任意性指的是語言形式與其意義之間沒有“自然”聯系。（索緒爾：語言符號（所指和能指）是任意的）。

3．Productivity（能產性）

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.

語言的發音和詞匯（語言資源）是有限的，但是人們能創造出的表達式是無限的。語言的使用者能創造并理解他們從未聽過的新的表達方式和句子。

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.

文化傳遞性指語言代代相傳承的過程。

人類并不是天生就有會說某一具體的語言的能力。語言是習得的，不是遺傳而來的。

5．Discreteness（可分離性）

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

語言都有其特定的語音，并且含義與所有其它聲音相區別，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.

語言的組織有兩個層次，這種屬性被稱作雙重性。

①語音層面——二級單位、無意義。

②語義層面（詞素/單詞/句子/語篇）——基本單位、有意義。

雙重性使語言以有限語音產生大量的、意義有區別的聲音組合。語言使用者可以談論任何他們了解的東西。

III. Other properties（語言的其他屬性）

1．Vocal-auditory channel（聲樂聽覺通道）

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

人類語言交流通常由發音器官發出，并通過耳朵聽到。

2．Reciprocity（相互作用性）

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

任何語言符號的發出者也可以是語言的接收者。

3．Specialization（專業性）

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).

語言符號通常沒有其他的目的，例如呼吸或喂食。

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

4．Non-directionality（無方向性）

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

語言符號盡管看不到，可以在聽得見的距離內被任何人聽到。

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).

語言符號產生的快，消失的也快。

聽覺信號也是轉瞬即逝，不管聽話人是否聽到（不像動物的足跡或書寫）。