評論
打印
The broad general findings of the new science are:
描寫語言學的主要研究成果有如下幾項：
1. All languages are systems of human conventions , not systems of natural laws.
一、所有的語言都只是人為習俗的體系，而不是自然法則的體系。不論是研究何種語言，
The first-and essential-step in the study of any language is observing and setting down precisely what happens when native speakers speak it.
第一步，一也是最根本的一步--就是觀察并準確無誤地記錄以該語言為母語的人使用語言的情況。
2. Each language is unique in its pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
二、每種語言的語音、語法和詞匯都有其與眾不同的特點。
It cannot be described in terms of logic or of some theoretical, ideal language.
任何語言都不能通過邏輯或從某種理論上的、理想化的語言的角度來進行描述，
It cannot be described in terms of any other language, or even in terms of its own past.
也不能從任何別的語言的角度來描述，甚至不能用其自身的早期形式來描述。
3. All languages are dynamic rather than static, and hence a "rule" in any language can only be a statement of contemporary practice. Change is constant-and normal
三、一切語言都是發展的，而不是靜止不變的。因此，任何語言的"規則''都只能說明其現階段的用法情況。規則發生變化是經常性的--也是正常的現象。
4. "Correctness" can rest only upon usage, for the simple reason that there is nothing else for it to rest on. And all usage is relative.
四、語言使用的"正確性"只能根據習慣用法來評判，原因很簡單，除此而外別無其他評判標準。而所有的習慣用法都是相對的。
From these propositions it follows that a dictionary is good only insofar as it is a comprehensive and accurate description of current usage.
根據以上這些觀點應該可以得出這樣的結論：一部詞典只有當它能全面而準確地描述語詞的現時用法時才算是好詞典，
And to be comprehensive it must include some indication of social and regional associations.
而要做到全面，它就必須包含對一些社會性和區域性等方面情況的描述。
New dictionaries are needed because English changed more in the past two generations than at any other time in its history.
人們需要新詞典是因為英語在過去這兩代人的時間里所發生的變化比以往任何時期都要大。
It has had to adapt to extraordinary cultural and technological changes, two world wars, unparalleled changes in transportation and communication, and unprecedented movements of populations.
新詞典必須使自己適應以下新時代的情況：文化與科技的突飛猛進、兩次世界大戰、交通運輸和通訊方面的無比巨大的發展變化以及規模空前的人口流動。
More subtly , but pervasively, it has changed under the influence of mass education and the growth of democracy.
更加微妙，但卻非常普遍的是，教育的普及和民主的發展也給英語帶來一些影響。
