Class 1

viernes, 23 de mayo de 2014 20:49

Our object of study is language.

Grammar is one level of analysis.

There are other levels of analysis in language which are included in linguistics. For example, the
functions we carry on with language.

How language works in a social group.

There are some topics that are very rude to talk in English but not in Spanish.

Questions that you shouldn't ask.

How much do yo earn?

En espaol no resulta ofensivo esta pregunta.

How old are they? Not polite

English is much more polite than spanish. We are too bossy.

Social sciences
Linguistics as a science

There are differences between languages in their use apart from their grammar or vocabulary.

To say "wait" to a professor is offensive in term of linguistics. (the use of the imperative form is so
restrictive in english)

How language is taught?

Linguistic policies,e.g. bilingualism in our country or in places where spanish is a second language.

Neurolinguistic or psycholinguistic --> how we organize our ideas linguistically speaking. -->
language and the mind.

Language has substance and form.

By the way in English we only have a word , i.e. language but in spanish we have two words , i.e.
lengua y lenguaje.

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lengua y lenguaje.

In many languages there is difference between this two words but not in english.

Language -- > the capacity that we have as human beings

The language --> a particular language , e.g. spanish, english, etc

How can human beings used this system of communication?

In two modes, oral and writing mode

We can use the same system of communication in two modes.

What is the substance of language?

The substance of language is the raw material out of which all languages are formed.

We should think this raw material as sth like a "cake"

Here we have all the sounds that human beings can make.

We have all the sounds of all languages.

All the sounds that we can make with our mouth. Now each language takes a portion , a section of
sounds . Sometimes languages take the same sounds and share it. This is one element of substance
which is the phonic substance.

The phonic substance: all the sounds that human beings can make.

Another component of substance is the graphic substance.

The graphic substance is made up of all the graphemes that human beings can make to represent oral
sounds.

And then within this raw material , we find all the functions of language and all the notions of
language.

Functions indicate the jobs we do when we use language. They indicate the speaker's intentions when
using language.

In english they are stated with a gerund. For example, apologyzing, offering, accepting, refusing,
denying, asking for permission, interrupting.

Functions only can be determined by context. The context helps us to understand the function of a

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Functions only can be determined by context. The context helps us to understand the function of a
phrase or word.

One stretch of language can fulfilled many functions and the other way round.

Same functions can be fulfilled by many language exponents.e.g. close the window! (imperative), can
you close the window? , would you mind closing the window? Etc

We can be out of context . For example, being overpolite . --> not appropriate.

One stretch of language or discourse can fulfill different functions according to the context.

Notions are the categories into which we organize reality. e.g. time, shape, size, etc. Those are
universal , they can be found in all languages.

Functions are also universal.

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