introduction to Linguistics

Linguistics

By: L.M.Baskaran

Linguistics is the science of language-linguistics is just like physics or genetics; there is logic in the profusion of rules which also have some exceptions. There is a method in this madness(to the preserving scientists’ gladness). From phonetics right to pragmatics Stretches this science called linguistics. Phonetics-the science of symbol and sound with lots of segments does abound. There are contoids; vocoids and diphthongs, and also such things called triphthongs. These then are in combination with suprasegmentals like intonation, elision, stress, juncture, gradation, which give some phonetic foundation. Then there is grammar with divisions of morphology and syntax to precision; rules can be structural or generative, Transformational as well as communicative. Morphology studies word-formation, by morphemes with their various functions. Syntax describes sentence division, with NP,VP, and similar collocations; then there is lexis-of words and meaning, with semantics always interweaving, there is synonymy plus antonymy, with polysemy and hyponymy; others too, like cognates and “false friends”, Also to meaning in the lexicon lend. Lexicon refers to words on their own, whilst semantics lets meaning to be shown. In context, with syntax and phonology, giving the language some morphology. We can’t then forget pragmatics, as we also can’t pf paralinguistics- pragmatics considers meaning in context, with non-linguistic features to perplex; such features like situation and relevance, which at times can cause ambivalence. However, the fact still remains that linguistics is not a bane, tho’ exceptions may seem more than rules giving the emergence of so many schools of thought and attempts at description. These are all means of precision, where the linguist attempt to express most clearly- not just to impress!.

An Introduction to Linguistics

By: Meagan Louie

What is Linguistics?

Linguistics is the study of language Taking a scientific approach to studying language:

1.Observe some language phenomena

2.Make a hypothesis about the phenomena

3.Test your hypothesis

4.Revise your hypothesis

5.Test your revised hypothesis

6.Repeat steps 4 and 5.

What is linguistics?

 Linguistics is the science of language(s). It is generally a descriptive discipline rather than a prescriptive one, which means that linguists do not lay down hard and fast rules about how to use a certain language, but rather concentrate on describing the rules which (especially native) speakers seem to have internal used. Apart from this, there are various different ways of  ‘doing’ linguistics. For example, we can concenter ate on language as used at a certain point of

time e.g. in 1989; this is called synchronic linguistics. Alternatively, we can look at language  from a diachronic point of view, which involves analyzing the development of a language during a certain period of time e.g. during Middle English, or in the 1950s etc. Linguistics is a

science which can either be studied in a theoretical or a more applied way. For example, someone may be interested in finding out exactly how questions are formed in English (= theoretical). Once this is known the knowledge could be applied e.g. to language teaching, thereby (hopefully) enabling teachers and pupils to learn the language more effectively.

By: Finegan, Edward (2004). Language: Its Structure and Use. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.  

Kortmann, Bernd (2005). English Linguistics: Essentials.

Berlin: Cornelsen Verlag.   Yule, George (2006). The Study of Language: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  

Language, Communication and Linguistics

Language can be seen as sound organized into units of form and function with meaning, contextualized in reality. The key words here are sound, form, function, meaning and reality, coupled with the two words “organized” and “contextualized”. Language can also be considered as an abstraction resultant from the linguistic behaviour of its users. To study it or describe this abstraction we need a science of language-a systematic study of language. This is what is known as linguistics-that scientific, systematic, objective study of language.

The relationship of language and medium

Language(abstraction)

Medium

(concrete realization)

Speech( sound & meaning)                                                     writing(symbol & meaning)

Language can also be seen as a system of signals by which we communicate. The term “communicate” here is what we have to consider carefully.

Communication

Communication is a wide-ranging term, but the context which we are referring to is the context of human communication. Human communication has many variables.

The variables of communication

COMMMUNICATION

                                                                                                                       

                        Non-vocal                                                                                vocal

           

Visual              tactile    olfactory        physical(kinetic)                      non-speech           speech

                                   

                                    Physiological reflexes      emotion markers   voice quality    paralinguistic

                                                                                                            Difference             effects

 The human communication chain

COMMUNICATION CHAIN

BRAIN encodes                                                                                    BRAIN decodes

            Sender                                                                         receiver

               speaking              message               listening

                       

                  writing               message              reading                                          

Oral-Aural Communication

In this communicative context, the brain sends a message(encodes) via the mouth and the

Vocal-cum-supraglottal organs in the mouth actually transmit the message(production of sound). The ears and the audiological apparatus now receive the message(reception of sound) and send it up to the brain for interpreting the communicative content and intent(decodes).

Written-Visual Communication

In the communicative context, the brain sends a message(encodes) via the hand, which actually transmits the message(writes) (production of language). The eye then receives the message(reception of language) and sends it up to the brain for interpreting the communicative content and intent(decodes).

Medium	Productive skills (active)	Receptive skills (passive)
Oral/aural	Speaking	Listening
Written/ visual	Writing	Reading

The communicative process can also be technically represented thus:

The technical representation of the communication process

Information source              Transmitter               content           Receiver             Destination

(encoder)                                                                                                             (decoder)