What are we talking about when we talk about language?

当我们讨论语言时，我们到底在讲些什么？

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Because everyone USES language to talk, everyone thinks he can talk about language.

人人都用语言交谈，人人也就自认能够谈论语言。

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Metalingual (metalinguistic) function: the function of language that can be used to talk about language itself.

元语言功能，指语言可用来讨论语言本身的功能。

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We'll talk about what languages share, we'll talk about how language develops, and we'll talk about language and communication in nonhumans.

我们将会谈及各种语言的共性,谈及语言的发展,以及非人类的语言交流

耶鲁公开课 - 心理学导论课程节选

If you hope to make it with theory of what people are and how people work, you have to explain and talk about language.

如果你想要理解关于人类本质,及其行为模式的理论,就必须得探讨并解释语言

耶鲁公开课 - 心理学导论课程节选

Second thing we want to talk about very briefly as we go along is the semantics of the language.

我们要说的第二点,是语言的语义。

麻省理工公开课 - 计算机科学及编程导论课程节选

Unlike Mr Berlusconi, Mr Prodi and his advisers talk the right language about the need for more competition.

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Rather bland language to talk about the online equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.

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They hear him talk about how Americans should learn a language other English and applaud.

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