History of European Linguistics

VUB-BNU Summer School“European Languages, culture and educational systems”

Dr. Kamakshi Rajagopal

Structure of the session

Some theory: Language as a system of signs (45min)

Break (15min)

Group exercise (30min): groups of 6, laptops?

Plenary presentation and discussion (30min)

Why Study Language?

• Instrument for communication

• Instrument for our learning

• Insight into our culture

• Insight into our brain

Semiotics = Study of Signs

a + b = a - b x ≥ y ∞ π

:-) :-( ;-)¬ (A∧B) = ¬A∨¬B

Language as a System of Signs

to convey Meaning

Ferdinand De Saussure (1857-1913)

• A Sign is a Concept (signifié) conveyed by a Form (signifiant)

• Arbitrary

TREE ARBRE

BOOM

Ferdinand De Saussure (1857-1913)

• Language– Langue (abstract)– Parole (utterances)

• Synchronic vs diachronic analysis

• Syntagma (relations of succession) vs

Paradigma (relations of substitutability)

Example

• The child catches the ball• The children catch the ball

lightsa lampThe child catches the ballA womanPARA

DIG

MA

SYNTAGMA

Levels of structure

• Phonology: cat /kæt/ vs bat /bæt/

• Morphology: plural cat-s ; children 3rd person sings

• Syntax: The cat, The woman sings

• Semantics: The cat vs the bat

After de Saussure

- Only structure, no meaning > generative grammar

- Meaning drives structure > functionalism

Generative grammar

• Rule-based• Well-formed sentences• Semantics?

“Colourless green ideas sleep furiously”Adj Adj N V

AdvNP VPS

Functionalism

• Meaning is the primary driver of form in language

• Language can be used to perform certain functions

In Europe, two schools of thought: • Prague School Jakobson• Copenhagen School Halliday

Roman Jakobson (1896-1982)

Six functions of language

• Referential function• Expressive function• Conative function• Poetic function• Phatic function• Metalingual function

Sender

Channel

Context

Message Receiver

Code

Reference

Expressive ConativePoetic

Phatic

Metalingual

“Hey, Wow!”

“Hello?”

“John…”

Louisa is talking to John who is at Rock Werchter. Upon hearing a song over the telephone, Louisa says:

“Hey, Wow!!! That song is by Stromae … Papaoutai… Is it ”Papa, ou t’es…” or “Papa, ou tu es”? …….Hello? John, can you hear me?”

“Papa, ou t’es” or “Papa, ou tu es””

Papaoutai

“That song is by Stromae”

Systemic Functional Grammar

Michael Halliday (1925)

Pragmatics

• Intention of the speaker• Speech Acts– Locutionary act: the utterance itself

“It is cold here.”– Illocutionary act: the intended result of the speaker

Request to close the door– Perlocutionary act: the effect of the illocutionary act

The door is closed

Exercises: Language in ads

• What are the signs used? (form and concept)• How is language used in the ad?• What effect is reached?

• Is it a good ad?

References

• About de SaussureBaskin, W. (trans.) (1974). De Saussure, F. Course in General Linguistics, Glasgow: Fontana

• Roman JakobsonJakobson, J. (1962-1987). The Selected Writings of Roman Jakobson, The Hague and Berlin: Mouton.

• M.A.K. HallidayHalliday, M.A.K. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar. London: E. Arnold.

• ChomskyChomsky, N. (1985). Syntactic Structures. Reprint. Berlin and New York, 1985.