Linguistics is the study of language. The document outlines four major views of language: structuralism, transformationalism, functionalism, and interactionalism. Structuralism views language as a system of observable elements like sounds, words and sentences. Transformationalism sees language as innate and universal, governed by an innate language acquisition device. Functionalism emphasizes the meaning and functions of language in communication. Interactionalism considers language a tool for social interactions and relationships through conversation.

1. Introduction to
Linguistics

2. Hello!
Ms. Shiela S.M. Aringo

3. “If culture was a house, then
language was the key to
the front door, to all the
rooms inside.
- Khaled Housseini

4. Views about
Language

5. LANGUAGE
STRUCTURALIST
TRANSFORMA-
TIONALIST
FUNCTIONALIST INTERACTIONISTS

7. STRUCTURALIST
▧ Believe that language can be
described in terms observable and
verifiable data as it is being used
▧ Language is a system of speech
sounds used for human
communication.

8. STRUCTURALIST
▧Language
is a means of
communi-
cation.

9. STRUCTURALIST
▧Language
is primarily
VOCAL.

10. STRUCTURALIST
▧Language is a system of
systems.

11. ▧Sounds are arranged in
certain fixed order to form
meaningful words.
▧Ex: no words starts in bz- lr-
or zl but, there are spr- and
str-
▧Language is a system of
systems.

12. ▧Words are arranged to
form meaningful
sentences.
▧Ex: subject – verb- object
▧Language is a system of
systems.

13. ▧Language is a system of
structurally related elements:
▧Phonemes – sounds
▧Morphemes –words
▧Tagmemes – phrases &
sentences/clauses

14. STRUCTURALIST
▧Language is
ARBITRARY.

16. TRANSFORMATIONALISTS
▧Believe that language is a
system of knowledge made
manifest in liguistic forms
but innate and universal.

17. TRANSFORMATIONALISTS
▧Language is a mental
phenomenon.

18. TRANSFORMATIONALISTS
▧Language is
INNATE.
▧LAD
(Language
Acquisition
Device)

19. TRANSFORMATIONALISTS
▧Language is UNIVERSAL.

20. TRANSFORMATIONALISTS
▧Language is
CREATIVE.

21. Thanks!
Any questions?

23. ▧Believe that language is a
dynamic system through
which members of a
community exhange
information.
FUNCTIONALISTS

24. ▧This view of language
emphasizes the meaning
and fuctions rather than the
grammatical characteristics
of language rather than
structure and grammar.
FUNCTIONALISTS

25. So, what’s the
function of
language?

26. FUNCTIONALISTS
▧Expressing emotions
▧Persuade people
▧Asking and giving
information
▧Making people do things
for others

28. INTERACTIONALISTS
▧Believe that language is a
vehicle for establishing
interpersonal relations and
for performing social
transactions between
individuals.

29. INTERACTIONALISTS
▧Language is a tool for
creating and maintaining
social interactions
through
CONVERSATIONS.