Introduction to Linguistics Class 1 What is Linguistics

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Introduction to Linguistics Class # 1

Introduction to Linguistics Class # 1

What is Linguistics? n Linguistics is NOT: learning to speak many languages evaluating different

What is Linguistics? n Linguistics is NOT: learning to speak many languages evaluating different languages improving your languages skills

What is Linguistics? Study of human languages n Scientific methodology: observations form hypothesis testing

What is Linguistics? Study of human languages n Scientific methodology: observations form hypothesis testing theory n Objectives: Structural linguistics: find patterns across languages (find what is universal) Find patterns within the same language (how do language users utilize language in different circumstances) n

What does Linguistics study? n Theoretical Linguistics: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Lexicon n

What does Linguistics study? n Theoretical Linguistics: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Lexicon n Applied Linguistics: Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Corpus Linguistics, Computational Linguistics

What is language? adapted from Larsen-Freeman (2003). From Grammar to Grammaring n n Language

What is language? adapted from Larsen-Freeman (2003). From Grammar to Grammaring n n Language is a means of cultural transmission Language is what people use to talk about the things that are important to them Language is a set of sounds (or signs) and sentence patterns that express meanings Language is a set of rules through which humans can create and understand novel utterances, ones that they have never before articulated or encountered

What is language? n n n Language is a means of interaction between and

What is language? n n n Language is a means of interaction between and among people Language is the means for doing something – accomplishing a purpose, for example, agreeing on a plan of action for handling a conflict Language is a vehicle for communicating meaning and messages

What is language? Language is an instrument of power n Language is a medium

What is language? Language is an instrument of power n Language is a medium through which one can learn other things n Language is holistic and is therefore best understood as it is manifest in discourse or whole texts n

What is grammar? Grammar is used to make sense of the world and express

What is grammar? Grammar is used to make sense of the world and express meanings n Grammar does not ONLY have to do with rules n Grammar changes over time n Grammatical knowledge is subconscious n

What is grammar? n Prescriptive grammar: (rules from the traditional “grammar book”; “standard” language;

What is grammar? n Prescriptive grammar: (rules from the traditional “grammar book”; “standard” language; power) Good: She doesn’t speak French. Bad: She don’t speak French.

What is grammar? n Descriptive grammar (describe) Grammatical (depends on dialect, style) He doesn’t

What is grammar? n Descriptive grammar (describe) Grammatical (depends on dialect, style) He doesn’t know; He don’t know Ungrammatical (regardless of style) He not know; He known’t

Conclusion n The way you define language, linguistics and grammar reveals your beliefs about

Conclusion n The way you define language, linguistics and grammar reveals your beliefs about language