Linguistics

1
Linguistics

• DISCUSSION 3

2
Q1

• The textbook and lecture discuss language and sex
  mainly in relation to English.
• Discuss language and sex in relation to Chinese
  (any variety or varieties you prefer Mandarin,
  Cantonese, Taiwanese, Hakka . . . ).
• Bring in your own personal experience as a female
  or male speaker.

3
Q2

• Using Figures 1 and 2 from the lecture, explain
  either (1) how entry into a telephone
  conversation is coordinated in another language
  you speak, or (2) how the problems of
  identification are resolved (in another language
  you speak).
• Include some examples of the beginnings of
  telephone conversations showing different
  possible solutions and developments.

4
Q3

• Define politeness and face.
• How are they related to language forms?
• Discuss the results of Nash (1983).
• Give examples of other situations which support
  or counter the conclusions of that study.

5
Q4

• Is there any relationship between the sound
  system of a language and other parts of its
  grammar, such as syntax, vocabulary, word forms
  and word classes, and semantics?
• Give examples in which some aspect of sound
  interacts with another part of grammar.

6
Q5

• To speak a language what do you think you have to
  know (unconsciously) about its sounds and sound
  system?
• List as many things as you can, and explain why
  you need to know them.

7
Q6

• How are the sounds and sound system of a language
  important in its literature?
• Give examples in English and Chinese (or any
  other language). (List as many things as you can
  , and explain why you need to know them.)

8
Q7

• Why is it hard to respond when someone
  compliments you?
• Why do people give compliments?
• Why do they most commonly compliment?
• What principle about language do compliments
  exemplify?
• An utterance is a complex of actions.
• What we say and how we say it is determined
  socially.

9
Q8

• Find some features of language which can be (and
  are) used to identify things about people in the
  English Department. Consider features of
  language such as pronunciation (of certain
  sounds), word choice, sentence structures, choice
  of language(s) to use and their frequency, and
  code-switching.
• What things about people are the features used to
  identify? (Avoid naming any specific people.)

10
Q9

• What features of your speech can be used to
  identify things about you, personally?
• What things about you can they be used to
  identify?