Unit1TheNatureof Language5There's just one situation where gestures become a real language, and that's when2deaf peopledevelop them into a sign language.But deaf signing is totally unlikethe casual gestures that hearing people make in their daily lives.Similarly, our abilityto touch can bedeveloped into a real language.This is whathappened in the famous case of the 2oth-century writer Helen Keller, who wasborn deaf and blind. Without the ability to see or hear, she learned to speak byusing herhands to feel the movements of the vocal organs of the people aroundher, and then copying theseherself. Again,this sort ofthing istotallyunlikethecasual touching most ofus do in everyday lifeHuman beings are able to communicate their thoughts and feelings in manydifferent ways.If I have the ability, I can paint them, draw them, sculpt them,dance them, compose them into a symphony or a ballet or a piece of jazzand express myself in all the ways that are called arts and crafts" Each doessomething none of the others do. And the word "language"has been used inrelation to all of them.People talk about"thelanguage of painting”"the languageofmusic,"and soon.55But there's a fundamental difference between all these art forms and "language.When we see a painting or a dance,or listen to a piece of music, we don't needlanguage to enjoy what we see and hear.But if wewant to describe what it is thatwe've seen and heard, or give it a name, or discuss it with others, then we doneed language. Language allows us to talk about ourexperience of the world in away that no other means of communication can.That's why it is so special. That'swhy it deserves a study of its own. And that's why it is studied by the subjectcalledlinguistics:(1,553 words)
Unit 1 The Nature of Language 5 Theres just one situation where gestures become a real language, and thats when deaf people develop them into a sign language. But deaf signing is totally unlike the casual gestures that hearing people make in their daily lives. Similarly, our ability to touch can be developed into a real language. This is what happened in the famous case of the 20th-century writer Helen Keller, who was born deaf and blind. Without the ability to see or hear, she learned to speak by . using her hands to feel the movements of the vocal organs of the people around her, and then copying these herself. Again, this sort of thing is totally unlike the casual touching most of us do in everyday life. Human beings are able to communicate their thoughts and feelings in many different ways. If I have the ability, I can paint them, draw them, sculpt them, dance them, compose them into a symphony or a ballet or a piece of jazz, and express myself in all the ways that are called "arts and crafts." Each does something none of the others do. And the word “language" has been used in relation to all ofthem. People talk about "the language of painting：' "the language of music；' and so on. i But theres a fundamental difference between all these art forms and “language.” When we see a painting or a dance, or listen to a piece of music, we dont need language to enjoy what we see and hear. But if we want to describe what it is that weve seen and heard, or give it a name, or discuss it with others, then we do need language. Language allows us to talk about our experience ofthe world in a way that no other means of communication can. Thats why it is so special. Thats why it deserves a study of its own. And thats why it is studied by the subject called linguistics. (1,553 words)
6Reading CriticallyPreparatoryWork(1)The author of this text, David Crystal, is a famous British linguist, academic andauthor.Findoutmoreinformationabouthim.AcademicinterestsMainpublications:(2)This text is extracted from Crystal's ALittle Book of Languagepublished in 2010The wholebook consists of 40 topics, ranging from the acquisition and use oflanguage to studies of language. You can find the e-version of this book on theInternet.Scan threeof the topics and briefly summarize Crystal's viewpoints.(3)Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (full name Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)has inspired many linguists. You can have access to this book on the Internet aswell.Pleasenameatleast six characters in thebook(4)Sign language is a language which uses manual communication and bodylanguage to convey meaning.It develops within communities of deaf peopleand exhibits the same linguistic properties as spoken language.Can you findout more about the Chinese sign language and the American sign language anddemonstrate three signs for each?
6 Reading Critically 1 0 Preparatory Work (l)The author of this text, David Crystal, is a famous British linguist, academic and author. Find out more information about him. Academic interests：_ Main publications：_ (2) This text is extracted from Crystals A Little Book of Language published in 2010. The whole book consists of 40 topics, ranging from the acquisition and use of language to studies of language. You can find the e-version of this book on the Internet. Scan three ofthe topics and briefly summarize Crystals viewpoints. (3) Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland (full name Alices Adventures in Wonderland) has inspired many linguists. You can have access to this book on the Internet as well. Please name at least six characters in the book. (4) Sign language is a language which uses manual communication and body language to convey meaning. It develops within communities of deaf people and exhibits the same linguistic properties as spoken language. Can you find out more about the Chinese sign language and the American sign language and demonstrate three signs for each?
7Unit1TheNatureof Language(5)Bodylanguage is a formof human non-verbal communication.It consists ofbodyposture,gestures,facial expressions,eyemovements,etc,Listbelow afewexamples of typical body language of Chinese people and of American peoplefromyourownobservations
Unit 1 The Nature of Language 7 (5) Body language is a form of human non-verbal communication. It consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye movements, etc. List below a few examples of typical body language of Chinese people and of American people from your own observations
8Reading Critically1Critical ReadingI.Understanding thetext1.OutliningThe following outline will present you ani overview of the text.Find out thethesis of the text and then finish the table to complete the outline.Thesis:PartSectionPara(s).and main ideaIIntroductionIntroduction2Theconplexityofwrittenlanguage The uomplexily oflanguage3Theconplexity ofspokenlanguage3 The purpose of being14 Why complex?conplex:produutivity56 Creaing wordswith"un789川10116 Body languager gestures12ancl touching13I4 SomeothertusesoflanguageILonelusinns15
8 Reading Critically 1 Critical Reading I. Understanding the text I. Outlining The following outline will present you an overview of the text. Find out the thesis of the text and then finish the table to complete the outline. Thesis:_ Part Section Para(s). and main idea I Introduction 1 Introduction 2 The complexity of written language 2 1 he complexity oflanguage 3 The complexity ofspoken language II 3 The purpose of being complex： productivity 4 Why complex? 5 6 Creating words with ttun- 5 m II 6 Body language: gestures and touching 12 13 14 Some other uses of language IV 7 Conclusions 15
9Unit 1The Nature of Language2..Comprehension checkAnswering the following questions will help you understand the main idea andthe organization of the text better. Try to answer them by yourself, and thendiscuss them with your partner.(1)Can you give some examples to show the complexities of written language atthe levels ofalphabet, words, sentences, and discourse?(2)Can you give some examples to show the complexities of spoken language atthe levels of sounds, words, sentences, and dialogues?(3)Following Crystal's"donkey"example, can you make up a few sentences thatnobody has ever said before? What does this tell us about language?(4)"Un-" is a frequently used prefix that can be attached to a large numberof words to form new words.Can you think of more prefixes and wordsCcontaining these prefixes? What does this tell us about language?(5) According to Crystal, what are the main differences between “"body languageand"language"?(6) What is the fundamental difference between all the art forms and“languageas observed by Crystal at the end of the text?ll.Evaluationand explorationI.Evaluating the text(1) Evaluating the statementsIn paragraphs 9 to Il.Crystal makes several claims about the relationship anddifferences between"body language"and"language"proper.includinga. Language has an interesting"two-level" structure. The actual sounds and lettershavenomeaning... But as soonas we combinetheminto words,wehavemeaning...Facial expressions aren't like this. They always have a meaning.b. We learn manyrules of grammar in order to express different meanings, suchas changing the order of words in a sentence... But we don't have rules whichchange the order of ourfacial expressions to express different meanings.c. I've only talked about facial expressions, in making these points. But the sameissues arise when we communicate using gestures or touching
Unit 1 The Nature of Language 9 2. Comprehension check Answering the following questions will help you understand the main idea and the organization of the text better. Try to answer them by yourself, and then discuss them with your partner . (1) Can you give some examples to show the complexities of written language at the levels of alphabet, words, sentences, and discourse? (2) Can you give some examples to show the complexities of spoken language at the levels ofsounds, words, sentences, and dialogues? (3)Following Crystals "donkey“ example, can you make up a few sentences that nobody has ever said before? What does this tell us about language? ⑷“Un-" is a frequently used prefix that can be attached to a large number of words to form new words. Can you think of more prefixes and words containing these prefixes? What does this tell us about language? (5) According to Crystal, what are the main differences between “body language” and “language”？ (6) What is the fundamental difference between all the art forms and "language” as observed by Crystal at the end ofthe text? II. Evaluation and exploration I. Evaluating the text (I) Evaluating the statements In paragraphs 9 to I I, Crystal makes several claims about the relationship and differences between "body language" and 'language *' proper, including: a. Language has an interesting "two-level“ structure. The actual sounds and letters have no meaning. But as soon as we combine them into words, we have meaning. Facial expressions arent like this. They always have a meaning. b. We learn many rules of grammar in order to express different meanings, such as changing the order of words in a sentence. But we dont have rules which change the order of our facial expressions to express different meanings. c. Ive only talked about facial expressions, in making these points. But the same issues arise when we communicate using gestures or touching