INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO DE TECNOLOGÍASUPERIOR DE ORIENTE

Linguistics

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Definition
Linguistics is the scientific study of a
language, how it is put together and how it
functions. Sounds are brought together and
sometimes when this happens, they change
their form and do interesting things (Phonetics
and phonology). Words are studied
((Morphology) and also arranged in a certain
order (syntax) , and sometimes the beginnings
and endings of the words are changed to
adjust the meaning (semantics). Then the
meaning itself can be affected by the
arrangement of words and by the knowledge
of the speaker about what the hearer will
understand (Pragmatics).

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
Branches of
linguistics

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Phonetics
(The study of the production, acoustics and hearing

of speech sounds)

It is the study of the sounds of

human speech, their production,
transmission and perception. It
includes understanding how sounds are
made using the articulators (speech
organs) and also understanding how
the ear hears those sounds and can tell
them apart.
“The ear hears phonetics”

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Phonology
(The patterning of sounds and their abstract

properties)

It makes use of the phonetics in

order to see how sounds or signs
are arranged or systematic
organized in a language. How they
work according to the perception
of our brain.

“The brain hears phonology”

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Morphology
(The structure of words)

It looks at how individual words

are formed from smaller chunks of
meaningful units called morphemes.
For example, the English word
'untied' is really made up of three
parts, one referring to the process of
reversing an action (un-), one
indicating the action of twisting
string like things together so they
stay (tie), and the last indicating that
the action happened in the past (-d).

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Syntax
(The structure of sentences)

It is the study of how phrases,

clauses and sentences are
constructed and combined in
particular languages. Writing a
grammar requires defining the rules
that govern the structure of the
sentences of the language. Such
rules involve both the order of
words, and the form of words in
their various possible positions.

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Semantics
(Meaning of words)

It is the study of meaning of

words. It focuses on the relation
between words, phrases and
other bits of language and on
how these words and phrases
connect to the world.

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
 Pragmatics
(Language in context)

The study of how speakers of a

language use the language to
communicate and accomplish what
they want. Pragmatics looks more at
the relationship between speaker
and listener which allows
assumptions to be made about the
intended message, considering, for
example, the way context
contributes to meaning.

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)
I hope you have
understood because
now I want examples
from you. See you in
the whatsapp group!

Professor: Carlos Rodríguez

(IUTSO)