1、厦门大学英语语言学真题 2007 年及答案解析(总分：30.00，做题时间：90 分钟)1.What are the differences between prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistic study?（分数：10.00）_2.What are the major features of second language acquisition?（分数：5.00）_3.There are lexical ambiguity and structural ambiguity. How do you think ambiguity can
2、 be resolved? Please use examples.（分数：5.00）_4.Please use examples to illustrate the functions of language.（分数：10.00）_厦门大学英语语言学真题 2007 年答案解析(总分：30.00，做题时间：90 分钟)1.What are the differences between prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistic study?（分数：10.00）_正确答案：(The distinction between them lies i
3、n prescribing how things ought to be and describing how things are. Prescriptivism is to lay down rules for the correct use of language and settle the disputes over usage once and for all. Some usages were prescribed to be learned by heart, followed accurately or avoided altogether. It was a matter
4、of black or white, fight or wrong.“To say that linguistics is a descriptive (i.e. non-normative) science is to say that the linguist tries to discover and record the rules to which the members of a language community actually conform and does not seek to impose upon them other (i.e. extraneous) rule
5、s, or norms, of correctness.“ (Lyons, 1981:47)解析：解析 此题考查的是考生对语言学中的规定式和描写式的理解。这两者之间的区别在于，前者说明事情应该如何，而后者描述事情本是怎样。规定式是指语法学家尝试为正确使用语言定下各种规则，一劳永逸地解决用法上的争议。一些被规定为需要记住的用法要么被严格接受要么被一致反对。因为在规定式看来，这是黑与白、对与错的问题。“把语言学说成描述性(即非标准化)的科学是说语言学家试图发现和记录同一语言共同体的成员所遵循的规则，并不是强加给他们其他(即外来的)规则或正确的标准。”(Lvons，1981:47)。2.What a
6、re the major features of second language acquisition?（分数：5.00）_正确答案：(1)Influence of the first language. One of the features of second language acquisition (SLA) is that first language can exert influence. The process is called language transfer.(2)A natural sequence of Development. The second featur
7、e is that all L2 learners, no matter what their L1 is, follow a natural, fixed order in learning the grammar of the L2.(3)Irregular learner errors. The third feature is that learner errors are not regular. They may make an error in some contexts but not in others.(4)Learner difference. Learner facto
8、rs may influence the mastery of L2.(5)Learner strategies. Learner strategies are used: learning strategies, production strategies, and communication strategies.(6)Formal instruction. Formal instruction usually takes place in the classroom and the L2 is taught systematically with syllabus and textboo
9、ks.(7)The early stages. The early stage of L2 acquisition in naturalistic setting is often characterized by a silent period, but the use of formulaic speech, and by structural and semantic simplification. At this stage, both structural and semantic simplifications take place.)解析：解析 此题考查的是考生对二语习得特征的了
10、解。3.There are lexical ambiguity and structural ambiguity. How do you think ambiguity can be resolved? Please use examples.（分数：5.00）_正确答案：(Lexical ambiguity is the kind of ambiguity that can be explained by reference to lexical meanings. This is usually cause by polysemy of homonymy. For example, in
11、the sentence I saw a bat, a bat might refers to an animal, or, among others, a table tennis bat.Structural ambiguity, also know as syntactic ambiguity, can be caused because the surface structure of a sentence or phrase is ambiguous. For example: my small childs cot. This phrase can be understood in
12、 three ways for having three surface structures.(1)(2)(3) )解析：解析 此题考查的是考生对词汇歧义、结构歧义的理解，要求考生能够分析歧义之所在，并能够用直接成分分析法分析有歧义的句子、短语结构。4.Please use examples to illustrate the functions of language.（分数：10.00）_正确答案：(1) Informative: For most people the informative function is predominantly the major role of lan
13、guage. Language is the instrument of thought and people often feel need to speak their thoughts aloud, for instance, when they are working on a math problem. This is also called the ideational function in the framework of functional grammar.(2)Interpersonal Function: By far the most important sociol
14、ogical use of language is the interpersonal function, by which people establish and maintain their status in a society. For example, the ways in which people address others (e.g. Dear Sir, Dear Professor, Johnny, yours, Your obedient servant) and refer to themselves indicate the various grades of in
15、terpersonal relations.(3)Performative: The performative function of language is primarily to change the social status of persons, as in marriage ceremonies, the sentencing of criminals, the blessing of children, the naming of a ship at a launching ceremony, and the cursing of enemies. The kind of la
16、nguage employed in persormative verbal acts is usually quite formal and even ritualized.(4)Emotive Function: This function of language is one of the most powerful uses of language because it is crucial in changing the emotional status of an audience for or against someone or something. It is a means
17、 of getting rid of our nervous energy when we are under stress, e.g. swear words, obscenities, involuntary verbal reactions to a piece of art Or scenery; conventional words or phrases, e.g. God, My, Damn it, What a sight, Wow, Ugh, Oh, .(5)Phatic Communion: When we communicate with people, we all us
18、e such small, seemingly meaningless expressions to maintain a comfortable relationship between people without involving any factual content. Ritual exchanges about health or weather such as Good morning, God bless you, Nice day often state the obvious.(6)Recreational function: People use language fo
19、r sheer joy of using it, such as a babys babbling or a chanters chanting.(7)Metalingual Function: Our language can be used to talk about itself. For example, I can use the word book to talk about a book, and I can also use the expression “the word book“ to talk about the sign “book“ itself.)解析：解析 此题考查的是考生对语言功能的理解。语言具有七个基本功能：同时，考生还应该理解并掌握语言的其六个功能：informative(信息功能)、interpersonal(人际功能)、performative(施为功能)、emotive(感情功能)、phatic communion(寒暄功能)、recreational(娱乐功能)、metalingual function(元语言功能)。
