英语语言学重点名词解释汇总

Semantics

is the study of meaning. More specifically, semantics is the study of the

meaning of linguistic units, words and sentences in particular.

The theory of meaning which relates the meaning of a word to the thing it refers to, or stands for,

is known as the

Referential Theory.

The naming theory

命名说

According to it, the linguistic forms or symbols or words used in a language are simply labels of

the objects they stands for. So words are just names or labels for things.

It is also called the

referential theory

（指称论）

.

Theory of the context of situation [ J. R. Firth (1890-1960) ]

情景语境

①

The

relevant

features

of

the

participants,

persons,

②

The

relevant

objects.

③

The

effects of the verbal action.

The conceptualist view

概念理论

This view holds that there is no direct link between a linguistic form and what it refers to; rather,

in the interpretation of meaning they are linked through the mediation of concepts in the mind.

It is also called ideational theory

（观念论）

Contextualism

语境

J. R. Firth

费斯

The

linguists

hold that

meaning

should

be studied

in

terms

of situation,

use, context

—

elements

closely linked with language behavior.

Behaviorism

行为主义

This theory, somewhat close to contextualism, is linked with psychological interest. This view of

meaning proposed by Bloomfield is illustrated by his story about Jack and Jill.

According to Bloomfield, the meaning of a linguistic form should be viewed as

“

the situation in

which the speaker utters it, and the response which it calls forth in the hearer.

”

The Definition of sense

Sense

refers

to

the

inherent

meaning

of

the

linguistic

form;

it

is

concerned

only

with

intra- linguistic relations.

The definition of reference

Reference means what a linguistic form refers to in the real, physical world;

it

deals

with

the

relationship

between

the

linguistic

element

and

the

non- linguistic

world

of

experience.

What is culture?

Broadly speaking, it means the total way of life of people, including the patterns of belief, customs,

objects, institutions, techniques, and language.

In a narrow sense, it refers to local or specific practice, beliefs or customs.

Anthropological study of linguistics: study of language in a sociocultural context.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

定义

Our language helps mould our way of thinking and, consequently,

different languages may probably express speakers’ unique ways of understanding the world.

Linguistic determinism: L may determine our thinking patterns.

Linguistic

relativity:

different

languages

offer

people

different

ways

of

expressing

the

world

around.

Sociolinguistics

The

sub-field

of

linguistics

that studies

the

relation

between

language

and

society,

between

the

uses of language and the social structures in which the users of language live.

Variationist perspective:

变异视角

Variety

的定义

People who claim to be users of the same language do not speak the language in

the same manner.

Dialect

定义

V

arieties (

变体

)

related to the user are normally known as

dialects

Register

定义

In linguistics, a

register

is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in

a particular social setting.

1. Regional dialects

are linguistic varieties used by people living in different regions.

2. Social-class dialect, or sociolect

社会方言

,

refers to the linguistic variety characteristic of a

particular social class.

ct

个人方言

A

personal dialect of an individual speaker that combines elements regarding

regional, social, gender and age variations.

4.

Ethnic

dialect

种族方言

A

variety

of

language

that

is

mainly

spoken

by

a

less

privileged

population

that

has

experience

some

form

of

social

isolation

such

as

racial

discrimination

or

segregation

5. Standard dialect:

Diglossia:

Two distinct varieties of the same language are used, side by side, for two different sets

of functions

Monolingual:

Speakers of a single language control different varieties of that language.

Bilingual:

People develop some ability in a second language.

High

Context

Culture:-

Cultures

that

rely

heavily

on

non-verbal

and

subtle

situational

cues

in

communication.

Low Context Culture:-

Cultures that rely heavily on words to convey meaning in communication.

Definition of Pragmatics

The study of language in use.

The study of meaning in context.

The study of speakers’ meaning, utterance meaning,& contextual meaning.