Linguistics and Language

Lecture 1

What is Language?

Medium of communication specific to a society

• Any code employing signs, symbols or gestures used for communicating ideas

• Social tools comprising of receptive skills and expressive skills [written, visual, oral, manual]

What are the components of language?

1. Phonology: sounds and sound patterns

2. Lexis: words and morphology

3. Grammar: syntax, word combinations

4. Meaning: semantics

5. Pragmatics: understanding of words

What is linguistics?

How people speak, write, etc. Linguistics aims to understand the complex system of knowledge employed in language use

• Phonetics - production and perception of sound

• Phonology - study of sound patterns

• Morphology - word formation

• Syntax - sentence structure

• Semantics - study of meaning

What are the fields of study and disciplines related to linguistics?

Fields of Study:

• Pragmatics - meanings in context

• Acquisition - how language is adapted and learned

• Sociolinguistics - language variation in society

Disciplines:

• What are general or common features all languages share?

• How are modes of communication related?

• How are languages distinguished from animal communication?