Linguistically

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure. It involves analysing language form, language meaning, and language in context. Linguists traditionally analyse human language by observing an interplay between sound and meaning.

History of Linguistics

The study of linguistics dates back to the ancient civilizations of India and Greece, where philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle pondered the nature of language. Modern linguistics, however, began to develop in the 18th century and has since split into a variety of sub-disciplines.

Branches of Linguistics

Linguistics can be broadly divided into theoretical and applied linguistics. Theoretical linguistics is concerned with developing models of linguistic knowledge, while applied linguistics applies these theories to practical issues such as language teaching or translation.

Phonetics

Phonetics is the study of the physical sounds of human speech. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds (phonemes), and the processes of their physiological production, auditory reception, and neurophysiological perception.

Syntax

Syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing sentences in natural languages. The term syntax is also used to refer to the study of such principles and rules.

Semantics

Semantics is the study of meaning. It can be applied to entire texts or to single words. Semantics is concerned with the understanding of the meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and larger units of discourse.

Linguistics and Other Disciplines

Linguistics intersects with many other disciplines, including psychology, anthropology, computer science, and neuroscience. For example, psycholinguistics explores the cognitive processes that underlie the acquisition, use, comprehension, and production of language.

See Also

• Sociolinguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Computational linguistics
• Neurolinguistics