Many people hold various misconceptions about language. These false ideas are widely spread in daily life, but they cannot stand up to scientific examination.
很多人对语言存在各种各样的误解。这些错误观念在日常生活中广为流传，但经不起科学的检验。
Misconception 1: Some languages are primitive, while others are advanced.
People tend to regard certain languages as “backward” or “simple”. However, all human languages are equally complete and complex. Every language can meet the communication needs of its speech community. No natural human language is truly primitive.
误解一：有些语言原始落后，有些语言高级先进。
人们往往把某些语言看作 “落后” 或 “简陋”。然而人类所有语言都是同等完备、复杂的。每一种语言都能够满足其言语社群的交际需要，没有哪一种人类自然语言是真正原始的。
Misconception 2: Language is a perfect system.
Some believe that language can express everything accurately. In fact, language has limitations. Ambiguity and vagueness are common phenomena. Sometimes words cannot fully convey our inner feelings and subtle meanings.
误解二：语言是一套完美的系统。
有些人认为语言可以精准表达一切。事实上语言存在局限性。歧义与模糊是普遍现象，有些时候词语无法完整传递我们内心的情感与细微含义。
Misconception 3: Bad pronunciation or grammar means a person is unintelligent.
People often judge one’s intelligence according to how standard his speech is. But non‑standard forms of language are not signs of low intelligence. Non‑standard dialects also have their own systematic grammar rules. They are just different varieties of human language.
误解三：发音或语法不标准就代表一个人不聪明。
人们常常根据说话是否标准来评判人的智力。但是语言的非标准形式并非智力低下的标志。非标准方言同样拥有自身系统的语法规则，它们只是人类语言的不同变体。
Misconception 4: The meaning of a word is fixed.
Many assume each word has one stable, unchanging meaning. Actually, word meanings keep changing. Meanings shift with time, context and social situation. The same word may carry different senses in different circumstances.
误解四：词语的词义是固定不变的。
很多人认为每个词都有稳定不变的含义。实际上词义一直在发生变化，词义会随着时代、语境、社会场景而转变，同一个词在不同情况下可以具备多种语义。
Modern linguistics reminds us to treat language objectively. We should respect different languages and language varieties, and realize the limitations and changes of language.
现代语言学提醒我们要客观看待语言。我们应当尊重不同的语言以及语言变体，同时认识到语言的局限性与可变性。