10Reading Critically1In your opinion,are these claims justified? Can you support or challenge themwith examples?(2)Interpreting linguistic factsThe statements given below all express some linguistic facts.Answer the questionfollowing each statenment and see what kind of inferences you can make aboutlanguage and the use of language.Reading the first two paragraphs of Text B mighthelpyouwithsomeofthe.questions.Example:Once we ve learned a fewthousand words,and learned the ways our language allows us toput them together into sentences, we can say things that nobody has ever said before.Question: What distinctive feature of language is behind this observation?Answer:Language is immensely productive and it provides us with unlimited passibilitiestobecreative.a,Sound-sequences such as"up,""shoe,and"spots"are possible ways of talkingin English,but"ngop”"shmfi,and"doprns"aren't.Question: What does this tell us about phonetic rules in general and Englishphonetic rules in particular?Answer:b.Whilepeoplearetalking,they're alsolooking at eachother,and we can seethatthe expressions on their faces add a great deal to what they're saying.Question:Whatdoes thistell us about the visual aspect of linguisticcommunication?Answer:c.You might not know a preposition from an adverb, or the differencebetweenthe passive voice and the indicative,nor what the double object constructionis, but as a native speaker of English,you can use them with your hands tiedbehind yourbackQuestion: What does this tell us about people's knowledge of grammar?Answer:d. A sobering fact about language is that unlike other forms of cultural behaviorit isblind todemographics,socioeconomics and ethnicdifference.Question:What distinctive feature of language is behind this observation?Answer:
10 Reading Critically 1 In your opinion, are these claims justified? Can you support or challenge them with examples? (2) Interpreting linguistic facts The statements given below all express some linguistic facts. Answer the question following each statement and see whac kind of inferences you can make about language and the use of language. Reading the first two paragraphs ofText B might help you with some of the questions. Example： Once weve learned a few thousand words, and learned the ways our language allows us to put them together into sentences, we can say things that nobody has ever said before. Question: What distinctive feature of language is behind this observation? Answer： Language is immensely productive and it provides us with unlimited possibilities to be creative. > a. Sound-sequences such as "up：' "shoe：' and "spots” are possible ways of talking in English, but "ngop,” “shmfi；' and "doprns” arent. Question: What does this tell us about phonetic rules in general and English phonetic rules in particular? Answer:_ b. While people are talking, they re also looking at each other, and we can see that the expressions on their faces add a great deal to what they re saying. Question: What does tliis tell us about the visual aspect oflinguistic communication? Answer:_ c. Ybu might not know a preposition from an adverb, or the difference between the passive voice and the indicative, nor what the double object construction is, but as a native speaker of English, you can use them with your hands tied behind your back. Question: What does this tell us about peoples knowledge of grammar? Answer:_ d. A sobering fact about language is that unlike other forms of cultural behavior, it is blind to demographics, socioeconomics and ethnic difference. Question: What distinctive feature oflanguage is behind this observation? Answer:_
11Unit1TheNatureof Language2.Exploring beyond thetextThe following topics will cake you beyond the text.Form groups of four or fiveanddiscussthesetopicsinsome.detail(1)English, as an alphabetic language, is composed of 26 letters. Chinese, as acharacter-based language,is composed of thousands of different charactersPlease compare the composition of an English word and that of a Chinesecharacter and comment on the advantages and disadvantages of the twowriting systems in terms of languagelearning.(2) In English there are 20 vowels and 28 consonants.Can you find out how manyvowels and consonants there are in Chinese?Please compare the possiblestructures of an English syllable and that of a Chinese syllable and work outtheir similarities and differences.(3)In English you can createnewwords byadding a prefix or a suffix orboth to aword. Can we create new Chinese words in this way? If yes, how?And if notdoes this mean that Chinese has lost a part of its productivity?(4) Finally, what do you think are the distinctive features of language, i.e., featuresthat differentiate language from other ways of communication? Can you give adefinition of language?
Unit 1 The Nature of Language 11 2. Exploring beyond the text The following topics will take you beyond the text. Form groups of four or five and discuss these topics in some detail. (1) English, as an alphabetic language, is composed of 26 letters. Chinese, as a character-based language, is composed of thousands of different characters. Please compare the composition of an English word and that of a Chinese character and comment on the advantages and disadvantages of the two writing systems in terms oflanguage learning. (2) In English there are 20 vowels and 28 consonants. Can you find out how many vowels and consonants there are in Chinese? Please compare the possible structures of an English syllable and that of a Chinese syllable and work out their similarities and differences. (3) In English you can create new words by adding a prefix or a suffix or both to a word. Can we create new Chinese words in this way? If yes, how? And if not, does this mean that Chinese has lost a part ofits productivity? (4) Finally, what do you think are the distinctive features of language, i.e., features that differentiate language from other ways of communication? Can you give a definition oflanguage?
12Reading Critically1LanguageEnhancementI.Words and phrases1.WordformationIn TextA.David Crystl makesup somenewwordswith theprefixunfollowing thu exaniples of Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare.In what follows youwill find moreconpound words containingthis prefix.Studythem carefullyandput them into different grougs according totheir parts.of speech(1)uml.ahorsefromatree(7) social unFtst(2)ununvu mistakes(8)anunappneciaredgestureofgoodwill(3) unwartlv a plot(9)internal mcase(4)unbalathe budget(10)umccnuntahl absence(5) unfalosik a road(ll)umncctusimidtopublicspeaking(6)nbelie inChristianity(12)unwarthyofconsiderationNouns:Verbs:Adjectives:2.Antonym"Un-"is not che only prefix that is tused to form antonyms in English.Write downtheantonymns forthewords listedbelow,usingappropriateprefixes.AntonymPrefix(O113c1101chnxiruecqualircncouragevertortunatelogicalImatre(to be continued)
12 Reading Critically 1 Di language Enhancement I. Words and phrases I. Word formation In Text A, David Crystal makes up some new words with the prefix following the examples of Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare. In what follows you will find more compound words containing this prefix. Study them carefully and put them into different groups according to their parts of speech. Nouns：_ Verbs：_ Adjectives： (1) 一 一 a horse from a tree (7) social nn:( (2) mistakes (8) an gesture of good will (3) a plot (9) internal (4) the budget (10) absence (5) a road (11)r; to public speaking (6) in Christianity (12) iiiw^riln of consideration 2. Antonym "Unis not the only prefix that is used to form antonyms in English.Write down the antonyms for the words listed below, using appropriate prefixes. (to be continued) Antonym Prefix connection construct equality encourage ever fortunate logical mature
UnitI The Natureof Language13(continued)PrefixAntonymmonofingunlnormalineludrelevantsoseialsmmetricunderstancingverhal3.PrepositionsComplete the following sentences by filing in each btank with preposition orpreposition phrase from the alternatives given in bracketsthat body communication isn't.(inaway/(1)Languageis creativetheway)(2)They should bedisplayedthat enables them to be appreciatedbyallthechildrenintheclass.(matwaylin thewa)(3)Thesethreesmall,commonwords("so"like”"how")haveundergonemassivechangestheyareusedinthelastdecade.(na way/iwtheway)(4)And, along with all this,as wego from one publication to another we havetocopewitha hugenumberofvariationslanguage looks on thepage. (mawsy/in the wa)(5)if we read out loud,we have to use the sounds of thelanguage-over 40English.(ntheasntosa)(6)Some pious Las Vegans, it seems,put asidetheirdeepfeelings against gamblingfor the long-term goals of providing for family,furthering a career, or,somereligiousleaders,retainingworshippers.(liecaseot/inseul)
Unit I The Nature of Language 13 (continued) Antonym Prefix monolingual normal include relevant social svmmetric iindcrslamling verbal 3. Prepositions Complete the following sentences by filling in each blank with a preposition or preposition phrase from the alternatives given in brackets. (1) Language is creative that body communication isnt. (in a way/ in (11^- way) (2) They should be displayed that enables them to be appreciated by all the children in the class.(; ) (3) These three small, common words ("so： "like；' "how")have undergone massive changes they are used in the last decade. ( the way) (4) And, along with all this, as we go from one publication to another we have to cope with a huge number of variations language looks on the page.(M a w,.\ in I he wav) (5) If we read out loud, we have to use the sounds of the language—over 40 English, (in the a- >1 i n - ) (6) Some pious Las Vegans, it seems, put aside their deep feelings against gambling for the long-term goals of providing for family, furthering a career, or, some religious leaders, retaining worshippers. (： i ； m，Win )
14Reading Critically1(7)Now, on this issue of the strategic petroleum reserve, the government keepsquite a bit of oil on the sidean emergency. (in the caswl/im)tose al)(8) They are still dependent(on/from)imports formorethan90% of their oil needs. It is impossible for their country to be completelyindependent(on/from)othercountries.(9)Thecourt has promised to look(after/up/into)thiscaseaboutmoney laundering.(10) Then,aswriting,wecombine thesewords into sentences.(lor(oitl)Il.Sentences anddiscourseI.Telling the differenceThe following sentences in pairs are very similar to each other, Read themcarefully paying special attention to the highlighted parts, and try to explain thedifferences in meaning and/or style within each pair.(la)Wehavetobecireidl wiihtheword"language.(ib)Wehaveto bewan the word"language.(2a)Hesays hewill takehackwhathesaid(2b)Hesays hewill unopeak whathesaid.(3a) Analogy can befound at all levels ofa language.(3b)Analogycanoperuteatall levelsofalanguage(4a) Given that learned behavior can and often does change, what are the forcesthat eausu change?(4b) Given that learned behavior can and often does change, what are the forcesthat iriggor change?(5a)Weuin talk about ourexperienceof the world with languag in a way thatnoothermeans ofcommunication can.(5b) Launguage ailows u to talk about ourexperience ofthe world in a way that noothermeansofcommunication can(6a)Shewunlwzll cenered inhertalk
14 Reading Critically 1 (7) Now, on this issue of the strategic petroleum reserve, the government keeps quite a bit of oil on the side an emergency, (in the case ' . i n ) (8) They are still dependent(on/from) imports for more than 90% of their oil needs. It is impossible for their country to be completely independent(on/from) other countries. (9) The court has promised to look(alier/up into) this case about money laundering. (10) Then, as writing, we combine these words into sentences. (Im/ lo/wiili) II. Sentences and discourse I. Telling the difference The following sentences in pairs are very similar to each other. Read them carefully, paying special attention to the highlighted parts, and try to explain the differences in meaning and/or style within each pair. (la) We have to 川 with the word "language.” (lb) We have to the word “language：' (2a) He says he will what he said. (2b) He says he will -?cal what he said. (3a) Analogy can 1 M at all levels of a language. (3b) Analogy can at all levels of a language. (4a) Given that learned behavior can and often does change, what are the forces that change? (4b) Given that learned behavior can and often does change, what are the forces that r change? (5a) We talk about our experience ofthe world with in a way that no other means of communication can. (5b) ⑺* 入 j ! - 11. t< talk about our experience ofthe world in a way that no other means of communication can. (6a) She nl red in her talk