Linguistics can be divided into several branches based on the perspective or focus of study. At the highest level, linguistics is divided into general linguistics, which studies language universally, and descriptive linguistics, which studies specific languages. It is also divided into diachronic linguistics, which studies language change over time, and synchronic linguistics, which analyzes language at a single point in time. Additional distinctions include theoretical vs applied linguistics, and micro- vs macro-linguistics. Micro-linguistics includes the study of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Macro-linguistics includes sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neu

1. BRANCHES OF
LINGUISTICS

2. LINGUISTICS
Linguistics is the scientific
study of natural language.
Someone who engages in
this study is called a linguist.

3. BRANCHES OF LINGUISTICS
•Language in general and language
in particular can be studied from
different points of view
•The field of linguistics as a whole
can be divided into several subfields
according to the point of view that is
adopted

4. FIRST DISTINCTION
GENERAL LINGUISTICS
• Studying language in
general
• Supplies the concepts
and categories in terms of
which particular
languages are to be
analysed
DESCRIPTIVE LINGUISTICS
• Studying particular
languages
• Provides the data which
confirm or refute the
propositions and theories
put forward in general
linguistics

5. SECOND DISTINCTION
Diachronic (Historical)
Linguistics
• Traces the historical
development of the
language and records the
changes that have taken
place in it between
successive points in time:
‘diachronic’ is equivalent to
historical
• Of particular interest to
linguists throughout the
nineteenth century
Synchronic
Linguistics
• Non- historical: presents
an account of the
language as it is at some
particular point in time

6. THIRD DISTINCTION
Theoretical Linguistics
• Studies language and
languages with a view to
constructing a theory of their
structure and functions and
without regard to any practical
applications that the
investigation of language and
languages might have
• Goal: formulation of a
satisfactory theory of the
structure of language in
general
Applied Linguistics
• Application of the
concepts and findings of
linguistics to a variety of
practical tasks , including
language teaching
• Concerned with both the
general and descriptive
branches of the subject

7. FOURTH DISTINCTION
Micro linguistics
• Adopts the narrower view
• Concerned solely with the
structures of the
language system in itself
and for itself
Macro linguistics
• Adopts the broader view
• Concerned with the way
languages are acquired,
stored in the brain and used
for various functions;
interdependence of
language and culture;
physiological and
psychological mechanisms
involved in language
behaviour

8. FOURTH DISCTINCTION (CONTD.)
Micro Linguistics
• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Morphology
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Pragmatics
Macro linguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Neurolinguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• Computational Linguistics
• Applied Linguistics

10. MICROLINGUISTICS
• Phonetics is the scientific study of speech sounds. It
studies how speech sounds are articulated, transmitted,
and received.
• Phonology is the study of how speech sounds function
in a language, it studies the ways speech sounds are
organized. It can be seen as the functional phonetics of
a particular language.
• Morphology is the study of the formation of words. It is a
branch of linguistics which breaks words into
morphemes. It can be considered as the grammar of
words as syntax is the grammar of sentences.

11. MICROLINGUISTICS
• Syntax deals with the combination of words into
phrases, clauses and sentences. It is the grammar of
sentence construction.
• Semantics is a branch of linguistics which is concerned
with the study of meaning in all its formal aspects. Words
have several types of meaning
• Pragmatics can be defined as the study of language in
use in context.

12. MACROLINGUISTICS
• Sociolinguistics studies the relations between language and
society: how social factors influence the structure and use of
language.
• Psycholinguistics is the study of language and mind: the
mental structures and processes which are involved in the
acquisition, comprehension and production of language.
• Neurolinguistics is the study of language processing and
language representation in the brain. It typically studies the
disturbances of language comprehension and production
caused by the damage of certain areas of the brain.

13. MACROLINGUISTICS
• Discourse analysis, or text linguistics is the study of the
relationship between language and the contexts in which
language is used. It deals with how sentences in spoken and
written language form larger meaningful units.
• Computational linguistics is an approach to linguistics
which employs mathematical techniques, often with the help
of a computer.
• Applied linguistics is primarily concerned with the
application of linguistic theories, methods and findings to the
elucidation of language problems which have arisen in other
areas of experience

14. MACROLINGUISTICS
• Forensic linguistics, legal linguistics, or language and
the law, is the application of linguistic knowledge, methods
and insights to the forensic context of law, language, crime
investigation, trial, and judicial procedure. It is a branch of
applied linguistics.
• There are principally three areas of application for linguists
working in forensic contexts:
• understanding language of the written law,
• understanding language use in forensic and judicial
processes, and
• the provision of linguistic evidence