This document defines language and linguistics and outlines the major subfields. It begins by defining language as the innate ability of speakers to form grammatical sentences, according to Chomsky, and as the total set of utterances in a speech community, according to Bloomfield. Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language structure, including grammar, syntax, and phonetics. The major subfields are then micro-linguistics, focusing on language structure, and macro-linguistics, relating language to society. Micro-linguistics includes phonetics, syntax, and morphology, while macro-linguistics includes language geography, biolinguistics, and psycholinguistics.

1. Language & Linguistics

2.  What is Language?
• Language is the inherent capability of the native speakers to understand and form
grammatical sentences. (Noam Chomsky)
• The totality of the utterances that can be made in a speech community is the
language of that speech community. (Bloomfield)
• Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas,
emotions, and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced
sounds. (Sapir)

3.  What is Linguistics?
Lingua means: a tongue or an organ resembling a tongue.
istics mean: relating to, or characteristic of.
The scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of grammar,
syntax, and phonetics.
 Specific branches of linguistics include sociolinguistics, dialectology,
psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, comparative linguistics, and structural
linguistics.

4.  Types of Linguistics:
 Micro-linguistics
 Macro-linguistics
 Micro-Linguistics:
Micro-linguistics does not focus on how a language affects society but centers on its
structure by analyzing elements such as phonetics, syntax, and morphology.
 Macro-Linguistics:
Macro-linguistics views language from a broader perspective. It relates language to
society and connects it to different types of sciences.

5.  Types of Micro-Linguistics:
 Phonetics
 Syntax
 Morphology

6.  Phonetics:
It is the study and classification of speech sounds.
An example of phonetics is how the letter "b" in the word "bed" is spoken.
 Syntax:
It is the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Correct syntax examples include word choice, matching number and tense, and placing
words and phrases in the right order.
 Morphology:
Morphology is the study of words. Morphemes are the minimal units of words that have a
meaning and cannot be subdivided further.
An example of a free morpheme is "bad"
and an example of a bound morpheme is "ly“. It is bound because although it has meaning, it
cannot stand alone.

7.  Types of Macro-Linguistics:
 Language geography
 Biolinguistics
 Psycholinguistics

8.  Language Geography:
Language geography is the branch of human geography that studies
the geographic distribution of language(s) or its constituent element.
For example, toponymy is the study of place names.
 Biolinguistics:
Biolinguistics is the study of the biological foundations of language.
 Psycholinguistics:
Psycholinguistics is the study of the mental aspects of language and speech. It is primarily
concerned with the ways in which language is represented and processed in the brain.
An example of psycholinguistics is a study of how certain words represent traumatic
events for some people.

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QUESTIONS?

10. Thank You