Nature of Language &
Linguistics
Created @September 21, 2024 2:33 PM
Course SEEN 101 (ITL)
References
ITL_sem1_lesson2.pdf
Language
human system of communication that uses arbitrary signals
e.g. vocal sounds, gestures, written symbols
based upon words & combination of words into sentences
can be verbal or non-verbal
a unique human characteristic; means of understanding what it’s like to be
human
Views abt. language
Structuralist
language is a means of communication
primarily vocal, system of systems, arbitrary/random
Transformationalist
language is a mental phenomenon
innate, universal, creative
Functionalist
language is a dynamic system of exchanging info
emphasizes meanings & functions rather than grammar
Nature of Language & Linguistics 1
Interactionalist
language is a mean for establishing connections/relationships
for social/interpersonal exchange btw. individuals
Linguistics
scientific study & analysis of human language
incl. system & structure, acquisition, usage in communication, gradual
change
Language VS Linguistics
Language is a system that associates sounds/gestures w/ meanings; using
words & sentences
Linguistics is the study of language
it tries to observe language & describe them accurately
find generalizations w/in the descriptions
draw conclusion abt. general nature of language
💡 Linguistics overlaps & (ideally) cooperates w/
human sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology,
philosophy, logic)
technical sciences (math, comp. science, speech pathology)
physics (music, acoustics) & cryptanalysis
Grammar
language system; set of principle rules underlying a language
has diff. parts: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics,
pragmatics
Purpose of study
advancement of knowledge; practical use/consequence
Nature of Language & Linguistics 2
language pedagogy, speech pathology, speech synthesis, natural lang.
interface, search engines, machine transl., forensics, literature (writing,
editing, publishing)
linguistics teaches us abt.:
how we create & understand language
how children learn language
similarities & differences btw. languages
how languages change over time
how language categories relate to the world around us
how language use varies in diff. social & cultural settings
how to make computers understand & use human language
Core fields of linguistics
Micro linguistics
analytic approach of study; by components of language
phonetics - study of sounds; in relation w/ the mouth
phonology - study of sound systems; in relation w/ the language
morphology - study of word structure; parts comprising a word
syntax - study of how words are combined; sentence structure
semantics - study of meaning; literal meaning
pragmatics - study of meaning in relation to language usage;
contextual meaning
Macro linguistics
holistic approach of study; language as a whole
sociolinguistics - study of language in relation w/ society
historical - study of language change; etymology
psychological - study of language in relation w/ mind; first language
acquisition
applied - educational ling., speech pathology, language pedagogy
Nature of Language & Linguistics 3
anthropological - study of language in cross-cultural setting
computational - use of computers to stimulate language
stylistics - study of language in relation w/ literature
philosophical - link btw. language & logical thought
typology - study of diff. language types; classify languages
💡 Linguistics has connections to…
humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, philosophy,
literature, lang. pedagogy, psychology, sociology, physics
(acoustics), biology (anatomy, neuroscience), comp. science,
comp. engineering, health sciences (aphasia, speech therapy)
💡 Linguistics may be used to help train…
lang. teachers, interpreters/translators, copywriters, editors,
school teachers, speech therapists, comp. lang. programmers,
etc.
Linguist
anyone who studies languages; tries to describe & explain any topic related
to language
doesn’t always need to form a theory; suffice to observe systematically, or
systematically state pre-existing info for descriptive/pedagogical purposes
observes rather than participates
Nature of Language & Linguistics 4
💡 Misconceptions abt. linguists
they’re NOT capable of speaking many languages
often confused w/ translators & interpreters
they can write abt. grammar of an unfamiliar language
they’re interested in all languages of the world
Branches of Linguistics
1. General
studies language in general
supplies concept and categories of analyzed language
2. Descriptive
studies a particular language
provides data to confirm/refute position or theories
put forward in gen. linguistics
3. Diachronic
traces historical dev’t of language
changes occurred btw. points of time
4. Synchronic
non-historical
presents acc. of a language at it is at a particular time
5. Theoretical
studies language(s) w/ a view of constructing a theory of their structure
& functions
w/o regard to any practical applications
aims to formulate a satisfactory structure of a language in general
6. Applied
applies concepts/findings to a variety of tasks, incl. language teaching
Nature of Language & Linguistics 5
7. Micro
adopts narrower view; concerned w/ structure of lang. systems
phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics
8. Macro
adopts broader view; concerned w/ the way languages are acquired
psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, neurolinguistics, computational,
applied
Nature of Language & Linguistics 6
