語言研究的目的

The Purpose of Linguistic Study

自從二十世紀中葉，喬姆斯基提出「生成語法」理論之後，語言學的研究開始迅速地發展。古典語言學的起源是為了解釋經典，而我認為當今語言研究的目的主要有五項：一、研究、分析、描寫清楚語言的共時狀況與歷史發展。二、對種種語言現象要作出盡可能合理、科學的解釋。三、探索人類語言的共性和各個語言的個性特點。四、就是要加深對語言本質的認識，構建並逐步完善語言學以及各個分支學科的理論架構和體系。五、為語言應用服務。二十世紀末到二十一世紀初，語言已經成為人生及社會的一大資源，關涉到個人、集體與國家的生存與發展問題。根據現今我國的社會現實和未來需要，必須加強以下五個方面的研究力度：一、為國家制定良好的語言規劃、語言政策所需的語言應用研究。二、為母語教學所需的漢語應用研究。三、為漢語作為第二語言／外語教學所需的漢語應用研究。四、為適應資訊科技發展所需的漢語應用研究。五、為適應其他學科領域所需的漢語應用研究。身為未來對外漢語教學的工作者，除了本身專業知識的素養要充足之外，需多交叉性學科的相關知識也要吸收，如此才能使漢語教育事業健康地向前發展，讓漢語教育腳踏實地地走向世界。

After Noam Chomsky developed the theory of generative grammar in mid-20th century, the study of linguistics started to thrive unprecedentedly. However, people may ask ”Why do you study linguistics?”, ”What is the purpose of studying linguistics?”, and ”Does a linguistician find it easier to master a language than ordinary people? Is there and connection between studying linguistics and mastering a language?” The presentation today is to answer these questions. The purpose of ancient linguistics was to explain the ancient scriptures, and I think there are five purposes of modern linguistics that needed to be achieved: first, we should analyze, describe, and explain the coexistence of languages and their histories clearly; second, try to offer scientific and reasonable explanations to each language phenomenon; third, discover the generality of human languages and the special characteristics of each language; forth, study more about the essence of languages to construct the concepts of linguistics and other related theories; fifth, develop linguistics-applied service. From late 20th to 21st, language has become one of the greatest resources of human beings and countries. Thus, more and more academic disciplines need the theories and outcomes that are developed from linguistics, and this has pushed linguistic study to a peak that no one has ever expected. According to the social environment and the potential needs of our country, we need to reinforce the study of the following aspects: first, set up sturdy plans of applied linguistics for the country to develop policies and offer better ways to promote the language; second, the applied linguistic study of teaching Chinese as a first language; third, the applied linguistic study of teaching Chinese as a second/foreign language; forth, the applied linguistic study that can be catered to the development of the study of informational technology.; fifth, the applied Chinese linguistics study that can be blended into other fields of studies. As a future TCSL teacher, one not only should master the basic linguistic knowledge of the language, but also should discover the relation or connection between teaching Chinese as a second language and other fields of discipline. Only by doing so, teaching Chinese as a second language can thrive in the future, and be known to the rest of the world.