Introduction to Linguistics Class # 1

What is Linguistics? Linguistics is NOT: Linguistics is NOT:  learning to speak many languages  evaluating different languages  improving your languages skills

What is Linguistics? Study of human languages Study of human languages Scientific methodology: observations  form hypothesis  hypothesis testing  theory Scientific methodology: observations  form hypothesis  hypothesis testing  theory Objectives: Objectives:  Structural linguistics: find patterns across languages (find what is universal)  Find patterns within the same language (how do language users utilize language in different circumstances)

What does Linguistics study? Theoretical Linguistics: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Lexicon Theoretical Linguistics: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Lexicon Applied Linguistics: Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Corpus Linguistics, Computational Linguistics Applied Linguistics: Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Corpus Linguistics, Computational Linguistics

What is language? adapted from Larsen-Freeman (2003). From Grammar to Grammaring Language is a means of cultural transmission Language is a means of cultural transmission Language is what people use to talk about the things that are important to them Language is what people use to talk about the things that are important to them Language is a set of sounds (or signs) and sentence patterns that express meanings Language is a set of sounds (or signs) and sentence patterns that express meanings Language is a set of rules through which humans can create and understand novel utterances, ones that they have never before articulated or encountered Language is a set of rules through which humans can create and understand novel utterances, ones that they have never before articulated or encountered

What is language? Language is a means of interaction between and among people Language is a means of interaction between and among people Language is the means for doing something – accomplishing a purpose, for example, agreeing on a plan of action for handling a conflict Language is the means for doing something – accomplishing a purpose, for example, agreeing on a plan of action for handling a conflict Language is a vehicle for communicating meaning and messages Language is a vehicle for communicating meaning and messages

What is language? Language is an instrument of power Language is an instrument of power Language is a medium through which one can learn other things Language is a medium through which one can learn other things Language is holistic and is therefore best understood as it is manifest in discourse or whole texts Language is holistic and is therefore best understood as it is manifest in discourse or whole texts

What is grammar? Grammar is used to make sense of the world and express meanings Grammar is used to make sense of the world and express meanings Grammar does not ONLY have to do with rules Grammar does not ONLY have to do with rules Grammar changes over time Grammar changes over time Grammatical knowledge is subconscious Grammatical knowledge is subconscious

What is grammar? Prescriptive grammar: (rules from the traditional “grammar book”; “standard” language; power) Prescriptive grammar: (rules from the traditional “grammar book”; “standard” language; power) Good: She doesn’t speak French. Bad: She don’t speak French.

What is grammar? Descriptive grammar (describe) Descriptive grammar (describe) Grammatical (depends on dialect, style) He doesn’t know; He don’t know Ungrammatical (regardless of style) He not know; He known’t

Conclusion The way you define language, linguistics and grammar reveals your beliefs about language The way you define language, linguistics and grammar reveals your beliefs about language