Introduction to Linguistics

The term Linguistics is derived into two Latin words:

Lingua- which means language

Istics- means knowledge
There are three types
of Linguistics:

Theoretical Linguistics
Applied Linguistics
Historical Linguistics
 Theoretical Linguistics- is a branch of linguistics
which inquires into the nature of language and seeks
to answer fundamental questions as to what language
is.
• Phonetics - the study of speech sounds in their
physical aspects.
• Phonology - the study of speech sounds in their
cognitive aspects.
• Morphology - the study of the formation of words.
• Syntax - the study of the formation of sentences.
• Semantics - the study of meaning.
• Pragmatics - the study of language use.
 Applied Linguistics-focuses on the relationship
between theory and practice, using the insights
gained from the theory-practice interface for solving
language-related problems in a principled way. One
answer to this question is that it is the study of
language in order to address real-world concerns.
Applied linguistics generally incorporates
or includes several identifiable subfields:
 corpus linguistics, forensic linguistics,
language testing, language policy and
planning, lexicography, second language
acquisition, second language writing, and
translation and interpretation.
 Historical Linguistics –also called Diachronic Linguistics, the branch of linguistics concerned with
the study of phonological, grammatical, and semantic changes, the reconstruction of earlier stages of
languages, and the discovery and application of the methods by which genetic relationships among
languages.  Basically, it is the study of how languages change over time.
Two types of Applied Linguistics
Synchronic linguistics-aims at describing a language at a specific point of time, usually the present.
Example:
Study the differences between British from the American language.
Aeroplane- airplane

In contrast, a diachronic  or historical linguistics-considers the development and evolution of a

language through history.
Example:
Maam- madame- mesdames
sire- sir
spectacles- eye glasses

.
• Prescriptivism is the term used
for approaches to language that
set out rules for what is regarded
as “good” or “correct” usage.

Example:
Prescriptivism approaches usually
are used in schools and parental
chidings.
Believers of Prescriptivism think that
they are saving the pure language
from destruction, but fail to see that
language is constantly changing.
 Take a look!
OLD NEW
• skim milk skimmed milk
• ice cream iced cream
• Popcorn popped corn
• roast beef roasted beef
• wax paper waxed paper
• ice tea iced tea
• whip cream whipped cream
• cream corn creamed corn
• Descriptivism is an evidence-based approach
to language that describes in an objective
manner, and how language is being used.

Example:
specific linguistic features of the discourse of a
given speech community (e.g., gamers, sports
enthusiasts, technology majors), we are within
the realm of descriptivism.
• A model of language explains what human
language is. It is a theory of language.
Example:
Avram Noam Chomsky’s – UNIVERSAL
Grammar
“We are all born with an innate
knowledge of grammar that serves as the
basis for all language acquisition. In other
words, for humans, language is a basic
instinct” -Chomsky