Linguistics

Introduction to Linguistics
Definitions and key concepts

from the Latin

es wo
com rds
It
Isitics = Knowledge or
Lingua = tongue
science
Introduction to Linguistics
Definitions and key concepts

It is the scientific study of language,

focusing on the characteristics of both
individual languages and language as a
whole.
 Ferdinand de Saussere
( 1857- 1913)

Father of Modern Linguistics

What is the aim of linguistics?
To study the nature of language and
establish a theory of language

Describe a language and all languages by

applying the theory established
 Linguistics focuses on
Semantics - meaning of language
Morphology - structure of words
Syntax - the study of the formation of sentences
Phonology - patterns of sounds
Lexicon - mental dictionary of words
 What is language and How do words combine to
how does language work form a certain meaning?

How do languages differ How do words and

from one another? sentences break down into
parts?
 Linguistics involves studying:

Historical linguistics - how languages change over time

Sociolinguistics - how language varies from situation

to situation, group to group, and place to place
 Linguistics involves studying:

Pragmatics - how people use language in context

Computational linguistics - how to model aspects

of language

Psycholinguistics - how people process language

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
LINGUISTICS & PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy of language investigates the nature of
human language, its origin and use, the
relationship between meaning and truth, and how
language relates to human thought and
understanding, as well as to reality itself.