阅读理解LanguageasaSystemofSymbolsofallsystemsofsymbols(符号)languageisthemosthighlydeveloped.Ithasbeenpointedoutthathumanbeingsbyagreementcanmakeanythingstand
阅读理解
LanguageasaSystemofSymbolsofallsystemsofsymbols(符号)languageisthemosthighlydeveloped.Ithasbeenpointedoutthathumanbeingsbyagreementcanmakeanythingstandforanything.Humanbeingshaveagreedinthecourseofcenturiesofmutual(相互的)dependencytoletthevariousnoisesthattheycanproducewiththeirlungsthroatstonguesteethandlipssystematicallystandforcertainhappeningsintheirnervoussystems.Wecallthatsystemofagreementslanguage.
Thereisnonecessaryconnectionbetweenthesymbolandthatwhichitstandsfor.Justassocialpositionscanbesymbolizedbyfeatherswornontheheadbygoldonthewatchchainorbyathousandotherthingsaccordingtothecultureweliveinsothefactofbeinghungrycanbesymbolizedbyathousanddifferentnoisesaccordingtotheculturewelivein.
Howeverobviousthesefactsmayappearatfirstglancetheyareactuallynotsoobviousastheyseemexceptwhenwetakespecialpainstothinkaboutthesubject.Symbolsandthethingstheystandforareindependentofeachotheryetweallhaveawayoffeelingasifandsometimesactingasiftherewerenecessaryconnections.Forexampletherearepeoplewhofeelthatforeignlanguagesareunreasonablebynature:foreignershavesuchfunnynamesforthingsandwhycan’ttheycallthingsbytheirrightnames?ThisfeelingexhibitsitselfmoststronglyinthoseEnglishandAmericantouristswhoseemtobelievethattheycanmakethenativesofanycountryunderstandEnglishiftheyshoutloudenough.Likethelittleboywhoisreportedtohavesaid:“Pigsarecalledpigsbecausetheyaresuchdirtyanimals”theyfeelthesymbolisinherently(内在地)connectedinsomewaywiththethingssymbolized.
(1)
Languageisahighlydevelopedsystemofsymbolsbecausehumanbeings_________.
[]A.
havemadeuseoflanguageforcenturies
B.
useournervous