Part One
Chapter l Language and Linguistics
1.1.Nature and Properties of Human Language
1.1.1.The nature of human language
1.1.2.The comparison between human language and animal communication systems
1.1.3.The definitions of language
1.2.Functions of Human Language
1.2.1.From a learner's individual, pragmatic point of view
1.2.2.From an interactive point of view
1.2.3.From a social point of view
1.3.Linguistics
1.3.1 The definition of linguistics
1.3.2.The major branches of general linguistics
1.3.3.The basic concepts in linguistics
1.3.4.The major modern linguistic schools and theories
1.3.5.Representative figures of schools of linguistics
1.4.The Study of Language in Functional Approach
Tooics for Discussion
Books for Reference
Exercises for the Chapter
Part Two
ChaDter 2 Language, Thought and Reality
2.1.Early Theories Concerning the Relationship Between Language, Thought and Reality
2.1.1.Monism
2.1.2.Dualism
2.1.3.Saussure's Sign Theory, Richard and Ogden's Semantic Triangle
2.2.Sapir-Whorf Hypotheses
2.2.1.Introduction to Sapir and Whorf
2.2.2.Sapir's Linguistic Relativity
2.2.3.Whorf's Linguistic Determinism
2.3.Argument Concerning the Issue
2.3.1.Supporting views
2.3.2.Criticism on Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
2.4.Other Views Concerning the Relationship Between Language, Thought and Reality
2.5.The Insight the Debate Has Brought to Us
2.6.Comparison of the Thinking Patterns of Chinese and English- Speaking Peopte
Topics for Discussion
Books for reference
Exercises for the Chapter
Chapter 3 Language, Culture, Society and Individuals
3.1.The Relationship Between Language and Culture
3.1.1.Definitions of culture
3.1.2.The nature of culture
3.1.3.The universality in biology, culture and language
3.1.4.The peculiarity in biology, culture and language
3.1.5.The dialectal relation between lantzuage and culture
3.1.6.Problems concerning language and culture
3.2.The Relationship Between Language and Society
3.2.1.Language is first of all a social phenomenon.
3.2.2.Human societies are varied, soj are their languages.
3.3.The Relationship Between Language and Individuals
3.3.1.Language is an important means of survival for every individual.
3.3.2.Language is a tool of learning for everybody.
3.3.3.Every speaker has his own style.
3.3.4.Every speaker is a member of the soeech communitv.
3.4.Comparison Between the Two Major Culture Models
3.4.1.High-Context Cultures and Low-Context Cultures
3.4.2.P-Time Culture and M-Time Culture
3.5.Cross-Cultural Communication
3.5.1.Problems in cross-cultural communication
3.5.2.The importance of non-verbal communication
3.5.3.The ability to communicate effectively in cross-cultural settings
Topics for Discussion
Books for Reference
Exercises for the Chapter
Chapter 4 Language in Business and Language in Politics
4.1.Language in Business
4.1.1.Language and business
4.1.2.English in business in a broader sense
4.1.3.English in business in a narrower sense
4.1.4.Culture and its implication in business
4.1.5.How to improve competence in business English?
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Part three
Appendix 1 Introduction to the Course
Appendix 2 Syllabus for the Course
Appendix 3 The Constituent Structure of English Semology
Appendix 4 The Constituent Structure of English Grammar
Appendix 5 The Constituent Structure of English Phonology
Model Key to Exercises
General Bibliography