A Piece of Linguistics : An Introduction to Linguistics

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            Hi my beloved readers, today I want to let you know about linguistics. Honestly, it is just an introduction to linguistics that I read from the books. I hope this post will help you to know what the linguistic is.

Before knowing the linguistics, we must know what the language is first. Language can be seen as sound organized into units of form and function with meaning, contextualized in reality. Language can also considered as an abstraction resultant from the linguistic behavior of its users. So, to 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. In a simple sentence, LINGUISTICS may be defined as the scientific study of human language. Linguistic devided into two, there are pure linguistic and applied linguistic.

A.    Pure Linguistics        

The branches of pure linguistic are phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicology, and semantics.

1.      Phonetics

From the first cry sounds that a baby give after they was born, the communication channel is open between this individual and the world around them. The new-born infant being totally normal produces sounds which seem meaningless to those who speak a fully developed language. To this individual (infant) however, this meaningless sounds are means communication with those around him.

            When he/she is hungry, wet, uncomfortable, cold, or thirsty, the only means of conveying this message is by crying. Thus, this production of meaningless sounds (which do not have vocabulary meaning in any language) is the first stage of communication with the world. It also signifies the first stage of language acquisition albeit through sounds only with no conscious effort on anybody’s part to teach this infant to do so.

            The technical perspective that we can parallel this stage to be the field of phonetics which is the study of the production, transmission and reception of sound. The ability to produce sounds clearly and with no defect is due to the vocal to the vocal apparatus that is physiologically wholesome and with  no defects. So, phonetics is the field of linguistic science which is concerned with how these sounds are produce, what kinds of sounds are produced, and how these sounds are received and represented via symbols in languages in general.

2.      Phonology

The next stage in the language acquisition process is when the infant combines some sounds to produce syllables or parts of syllables which have some meaningful intent. For example /mʌ/ is almost a universal syllable which first appears in such situation. The infant produces the combination of /m/ and /ʌ/ sounds to produce “ma” /mʌ/ which is, in the most languages, the first syllable of the word “Mama” or “Mummy” or “Amma” meaning mother.

This stage of language acquisition can be technically paralleled to the field of phonology which is the study of speech sounds called phonemes – in their combinations which are specific to a language.

3.      Morphology

The next acquisition as the months roll on the infant is exposed to more language around him/her, is when they can give some form to this combination of sounds. They can say “Mama” now (not just “ma”). So the syllable that was used before now becomes a word. This syllable could be just one syllable which can also stands as a word. This grammatical units called morphemes. Morphemes can stand as a word on its own or combines with another morphemes to form a word such as “Mama”.

The technical study of thus aspect of language is associated with such morphemes, which have their respective grammatical functions. The field is known as morphology, which differentiates the various kinds of morphemes based on their finer grammatical functions.

4.      Syntax

The next stage is reflective of the arrangement of words according to the rules of word – ordering in that language. The linguistic field, associated with this field is known as syntax. Syntax concerned with the arrangement and ordering of words according to the rules of that language. From words, there is the progression to phrase, clauses, and sentences.

5.      Lexicology

Almost after this acquisition, the individual gradually gets to increase his vocabulary. This stage of vocabulary extension where the individual gets to widen his meaning range and repertoire is known as lexicology. Lexicology is the study of vocabulary items of a language. Such items are known as lexemes; or the lexis of the language.

6.      Semantics

The aspect of vocabulary extension where meaning goes further than just the first initial source referent and even touches aspects metaphors and idioms is covered in the study of linguistics called semantics. In a simple sentence, semantics means the meaning system of the word.

B.     Applied Linguistics

Applied linguistics formed by the times, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. Applied linguitisc also grow as long as the time.

1.      Psycholinguistics

Psycholinguistics is a study that concerned with human language and the human brain. It look at how language is acquired by the brain and what mental processes take place in acquisition of language in normal circumstances, abnormal, or breakdown conditions in the system are also considered under the study of psycholinguistics. So,the study involves the effects of injury, disease, congenital malformation and any such causes of dysfunction which affect the speech and language of individual.

2.      Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics is the study of language as part of culture and society. Sociolinguistics studies the variety in language and the uses to which people put language – including the social factors.

References :

Baskaran, Loga Mahesa.2005. A Linguistics Primer for Malaysians. Kuala Lumpur : University of Malaya Press.

Lyons, John.1970. New Horizons in Linguistics. England : Penguin Books.

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