This is a presentation on the definition and development of linguistics

1. Introduction to Linguistics
Chapter 1 Overview of Linguistics

2. Linguistics: Definition and Development
Language
- means to communicate
- it is a semiotic system (signifier and
signified)
- language allows to express virtually
every thought that we have
Linguistics
- systematic study of the structure and
evolution of human language, and it is
applicable to every aspect of human
endeavor
- focuses on theories of language
structure, variation and use, the
description and documentation of
contemporary languages, and the
implications of theories of language for
an understanding of the mind and brain,
human culture, social behavior, and
language learning and teaching.
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3. Development of linguistics
Orientation Period
0) non-theoretical studies before the 19th century
1) historical linguistics 19th century
2) structuralism first half of 20th century
3) generative grammar second half of 20th century
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4. Development of linguistics
Historical Linguistics
- Late 19th Century
- Neogrammarianism
Structuralism
- 20th Century
- Introduced by
Ferdinand de
Saussure (French-
Swiss Linguist)
Generative Grammar
- Invented and
developed by
Noam Chomsky
- has been the
dominant model of
formal linguistics in
recent decades.
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5. Development of linguistics
+ Linguistics as a science began at the beginning
of the 19th century and was diachronic in its
orientation.
+ The essential theoretical assumption of
linguists at this time was that of the sound law
which maintains that (phonological) change is
without exception unless this is prevented by
phonotactic environment.
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6. Development of linguistics
+ Later analogical change can mask an earlier
change and make it appear irregular by
increasing its scope beyond environments in
which it originally applied.
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7. Development of linguistics
+ Latter half of 19th Century
- linguistic techniques by Neogrammarians
- reconstruction of the proto-language Indo-
European from which nearly all languages in
Europe and many in the Middle East and
northern India are derived
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8. Development of linguistics
+ Beginning of 20th Century
- structuralism by Ferdinand de Saussure
- Saussure stressed the interaction at any one
time of elements in a language's structure and
maintained that these were interrelated in a
network of relations
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9. Development of linguistics
+ Generative Approach to language change
- rule change which becomes part of the
internalized grammar of a certain generation
and remains so until replaced by another rule
change.
- binary
- rejected by many, notably by sociolinguists
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10. Branches of Linguistics
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11. Psycholinguistics
amongst the most popular branches of linguistics that
studies the relationship between psychological
processes and linguistic behaviour.
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12. Sociolinguistics
serves a crucial function in our understanding and
application of linguistics.
deals with the effect of different aspects of society on
language
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13. Applied Linguistics
involves the practical use of linguistics to solve real-life
problems
speech therapy, translating texts from different cultures
or ages, and even in the process of second-language
acquisition.
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14. Computational Linguistics
deals with the use of language by computers and
programs.
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15. Comparative Linguistics
identifying similarities and differences between
languages that have a common origin
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16. Historical Linguistics
studies the evolution of languages over a period of time
and analyses the changes that took place within them.
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17. Stylistics
It is the study and interpretation of style and rhetoric as
employed by different authors within a language.
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18. Subfields of Linguistics
Phonetics
the study of how speech
sounds are produced and
perceived
Phonology
the study of sound patterns
and changes
Morphology
the study of word structure
Syntax
the study of sentence
structure
Semantics
the study of linguistic
meaning
Pragmatics
the study of how language is
used in context
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19. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
+ Edel Mae Dingle Opeña
+ edelmae.emo@gmail.com
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20. References
https://www.unidue.de/ELE/HistoryOfLinguistics.htm#:~:text=Linguistics%20
as%20a%20science%20began,is%20prevented%20by%20phonotactic%20en
vironment.
https://linguistics.ucsc.edu/about/what-is-linguistics.html
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/linguistics/about/what-is-linguistics.html
https://www.careers360.com/articles/branches-of-inguistics-counar
Kracht, M. (n.d.). Introduction to Linguistics. Los Angeles, CA 90095–1543:
Department of Linguistics, UCLA
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