Language
1. Fill in the blanks with the proper words.
（1）_______ function means language can be used to “do” things.
（2）_______ function means the use of language to reveal something about the feelings and
attitudes of the speaker.
（3）Most imperative sentences are associated with _______ function. （4）The sentence “What’s it like?” shows ______ function. （5）Greetings shows _______ function. （6）“We are most grateful for this.” shows______ function. （7）Propaganda shows ________ function.
（8）________ refers to contexts removed from the immediate of the speaker.
（9）Halliday’s metafunctions include ________, ___________, _____________.
（10）Linguistics should include at least five parameters:_________ __________
___________ ____________ _________________.
2. True or false questions ( If it is false correct it)
（1） Language distinguishes us from animals because it is far more sophisticated than any
animal communication system. （2） There is not a certain degree of correspondence between the sequence of clauses and
the actual happenings. （3） The theories discussed in the textbook about the origins of language are not at most a
speculation. （4） The definition,“ Language is a tool for human communication.” has no problem. （5） The definition, “language is a set of rules”, tells nothing about its functions.
Linguistics
1.Explain the following definition of linguistics: Linguistics is the scientific study of language. 2.What are the major branches of linguistics? What does each of them study? What makes modern linguistics different from traditional grammar? Point out three aspects . 3.Is modern linguistics mainly synchronic or diachronic? Why?
4.Which enjoys priority in modern linguistics, speech or writing? Why?
5.How is Saussure’s distinction between langue and parole similar to Chomsky’s distinction between competence and performance?
6.What characteristics of language do you think should be included in a good, comprehensive definition of language?
7.What features of human language have been specified by C. Hockett to show that it is essentially different from any animal communication system?
8.What is the main task for a linguist? State the importance of linguistics. 9.Why is “duality” regarded as an important feature of human language?
10.Fill in the right word according to the explanations. （1）_____________ the scientific study of language.
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（2）_____________ the study of the interlinguistic relationships among different linguistic
elements of language.
（3）____________the study of universal features of language
（4）____________ the study of a particular language at the particular point of time.
（5）____________ the study of the structure and both the syntactic and semantic rules of a
language
（6）the study of the rules or principles prescribed for people to follow when they use a
language.
（7）___________the study of language is relation to other sciences
（8）the study of the nature of human language and the human mind through the study of the
U.G.
11． True or false questions ( If it is false correct it.)
（1）Sociolinguistics relates the study of language to Psychology.
（2）In modern linguistics, synchronic study seems to enjoy priority over diachronic study.
（3）In the past, traditional grammarians tended to over-emphasize the importance of the written
word.
（4）Parole is relatively stable and systematic while langue is subject to personal and situational
constraints.
（5）Performance is the actual realization of this knowledge in linguistic communication.
（6）Saussure’s distinction took a sociological view of language and his notion of langue is a
matter of social conventions.
（7）Early grammars were based on “high”（religious, literary）written language. （8）The study of language as a whole is often called applied linguistics. （9）To explain what language is seems to be a naïve and simple question. （10）Language bears certain features distinguishing it from means of communication other forms
of life may possess, such as bird songs and bee dances.
(11）Competence and performance refer respectively to a language user’s underlying knowledge
about the system of rules and the actual use of language in concrete situations.
(12) Language is productive in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new
signals by its users.
(13) Competence and performance were proposed by the famous linguist Saussure.
(14) Syntax is a branch of linguistics that studies how words are combined to form sentences
and the rules that govern the formation of sentences.
(15) If a linguistic study aims to describe and analyze the language people actually use, it is
said to be prescriptive.
(16) Langue and parole were proposed by the famous linguist Saussure.
(17) Design features refer to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from
any animal system of communication.
(18) Onomatopoeia indicates a non-arbitrary relationship between form and meaning.
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