Introduction to Linguistics

Chapter 1 Overview of Linguistics

Linguistics: Definition and
Development
Language Linguistics
- means to communicate
- it is a semiotic system (signifier and
signified)
- language allows to express virtually
every thought that we have
- systematic study of the structure and
evolution of human language, and it is
applicable to every aspect of human endeavor
- focuses on theories of language structure,
variation and use, the description and
documentation of contemporary languages,
and the implications of theories of language
for an understanding of the mind and brain,
human culture, social behavior, and language
learning and teaching.
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 Development of
Orientation
linguisticsPeriod
0) non-theoretical studies before the 19th century
1) historical linguistics 19th century
2) structuralism first half of 20th century
3) generative grammar second half of 20th century

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Development of linguistics
Historical Linguistics Structuralism Generative Grammar
- Late 19th Century - 20th Century - Invented and
- Neogrammarianism - Introduced by developed by Noam
Ferdinand de Chomsky
Saussure (French- - has been the
Swiss Linguist) dominant model of
formal linguistics in
recent decades.

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Development of linguistics
+ Linguistics as a science began at the beginning of
the 19th century and was diachronic in its
orientation.
+ The essential theoretical assumption of linguists at
this time was that of the sound law which maintains
that (phonological) change is without exception
unless this is prevented by phonotactic
environment.

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Development of linguistics
+ Later analogical change can mask an earlier change
and make it appear irregular by increasing its scope
beyond environments in which it originally applied.

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Development of linguistics
+ Latter half of 19th Century
- linguistic techniques by Neogrammarians
- reconstruction of the proto-language Indo-
European from which nearly all languages in
Europe and many in the Middle East and northern
India are derived

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Development of linguistics
+ Beginning of 20th Century
- structuralism by Ferdinand de Saussure
- Saussure stressed the interaction at any one time
of elements in a language's structure and
maintained that these were interrelated in a network
of relations

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Development of linguistics
+ Generative Approach to language change
- rule change which becomes part of the
internalized grammar of a certain generation and
remains so until replaced by another rule change.
- binary
- rejected by many, notably by sociolinguists

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Branches of
Linguistics

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 Psycholinguistics
amongst the most popular branches of linguistics that studies
the relationship between psychological processes and
linguistic behaviour.

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 Sociolinguistics
serves a crucial function in our understanding and application
of linguistics.
deals with the effect of different aspects of society on
language

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 Applied
involves the practical use of linguistics to solve real-life
Linguistics problems
speech therapy, translating texts from different cultures or
ages, and even in the process of second-language acquisition.

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 Computational
Linguistics
deals with the use of language by computers and programs.

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Comparative Linguistics
identifying similarities and differences between languages
that have a common origin

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 Historical Linguistics
studies the evolution of languages over a period of time and
analyses the changes that took place within them.

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 Stylistics
It is the study and interpretation of style and rhetoric as
employed by different authors within a language.

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Subfields of Linguistics
Phonetics Phonology Morphology
the study of how speech sounds the study of sound patterns and the study of word structure
are produced and perceived changes

Syntax Semantics Pragmatics

the study of sentence structure the study of linguistic meaning the study of how language is
used in context

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Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
+ Edel Mae Dingle Opeña
+ edelmae.emo@gmail.com

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References
https://www.unidue.de/ELE/HistoryOfLinguistics.htm#:~:text=Linguistics%20as
%20a%20science%20began,is%20prevented%20by%20phonotactic
%20environment.
https://linguistics.ucsc.edu/about/what-is-linguistics.html
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/linguistics/about/what-is-linguistics.html
https://www.careers360.com/articles/branches-of-inguistics-counar
Kracht, M. (n.d.). Introduction to Linguistics. Los Angeles, CA 90095–1543:
Department of Linguistics, UCLA

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