Comments on A New Concise Course on Linguistics For Students of English

張艷紅

【Abstract】As human beings, we can feel the existence of language everywhere. Although all of us are involved in language and more or less related to linguistics, linguistics is not familiar to many people. In this field, many books are published. A New Concise Course on Linguistics for students of English is one of these achievements. The comments on this book contain three parts: the introduction, comments based on characteristics and conclusion.

1. Introduction

In the early years of 20th century, most linguistics books in China were translation versions. Since the last 20 years of 20th century, linguistics, as one of the main course, had been taught in China. Now, linguistics deserves more attention and becomes an imperative course for English majors. With 20 years development, linguistics books receive a flowering time in China. One of the achievements is A New Concise Course on Linguistics For Students of English written by Dai Weidong.

As an introduction text book of linguistics, this book covers the major branches of linguistics including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics—micro linguistics, also other branches appearing when language is related to its external world, such as sociolinguistics, neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics--macro linguistics.

This concise book is the wisdom collection of many scholars from famous universities of China.

2. Comments on Characteristics of the Book

1). Concise and innovation

This book uses concise and simple language. It leaves a good impression on the beginners. The foreign textbooks about linguistics are prone to stress on theories, use many different words and terms and refer to several kinds of languages in the examples. This kind of books lays big obstacles in front of students. However, this concise book avoids this problem. It is easy to understand and arouse the students interest in linguistic study. In this book, every sentence is appropriate and important and no words should be omitted. Every element plays an individual role .Maybe this is the books own feature and innovation, to some extent.

2). Appearance of basic scope and main concepts

Although this is a thin and simple book, it shows us the basic and useful concepts and views of linguistics. To the beginners of linguistics, its a helpful and useful introduction and guidance. The knowledge you get from the book can comparatively easily lead you to deep study on linguistics.

3). Arrangement of the book

From chapter 1 to chapter 7, the author tells us the nature of the language, change of language and the center scope of the linguistics, such as the phonetics, phonology and so on. Then, he introduces several branches of linguistics, and this conforms to our cognitive law.

This new edition adds chapter 12 Language and Brain. “Psycholinguistics is the study of language and mind: the mental structures and processes which are involved in the acquisition, comprehension and production of language. Perhaps the most well-developed part of psycholinguistics is concerned with language acquisition in children, although there is a growing amount of working being done on second language acquisition and learning (Liu Runqing, 2006, P6)”. So in my view, chapter 10 and 11 can follow chapter 12. In addition, chapter 8 and Chapter 9 have the same topic style with chapter 12.

However, generally speaking, it is a practical and useful book. At the end of each chapter comes the topic-related exercises, which can help students master the knowledge. All in all, concise introduction, topic- related exercises as well as a helpful glossary, provide further aids to study and revision

4). Application

Because this book is easy to understand and considered as one of useful introduction to linguistics, it is praised by the beginners. Every kind of books faces a certain group of readers.

3. Conclusion

The book written by Professor Dai is easy to understand. It lessens to some extent students mind burden and pressure, at least avoids leaners strong dislike to this course at the beginning. Well begin is half done. The book is to be praised for what it offers to the beginners who want to gain the insight into the nature of language. However, it maybe receives its weak points.

In a word, every book has its own characteristics, application and meaningful existence. As for the beginners, the concise book successful leads them to make acquaintance with linguistics.

【References】

[1]劉潤請,Linguistics : A New Course book , Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2006.