1. Introduction to Linguistics
Lecture 1

2. Schedule today Practical information
Introduction to linguistics: the structure of the human language

3. Practical information
Who am I?
PhD Candidate Ghent University, Uranela Demaj
Expert in Linguistics – i.e. sociolinguistics
Belgium - only recently emigrated to Kosovo (1 and a half year ago)

5. BRUGES
Well, you know where this is

6. Practical information
What is expected from you?
Evaluation criteria:
attendance and behavior 10%
midterm test 40%
Final examination 50%

7. Course outline There are two parts to this course:
PART 1: STRUCTURAL LINGUISTICS
PART 2: LINGUISTICS IN SOCIETY

8. But first… What is LINGUISTICS?
Fundamentally, it is the field concerned with the nature of language and linguistic communication.
So, this means that you can basically divide linguistics in two core elements:
it’s about the nature of language – HENCE: language – internally (system)
It’s about linguistic communication – HENCE: language – externally (communication)

9. Structural linguistics and linguistics in society
You can’t have the one (the system) without the other (the communication), or else it won’t make sense to have it
Structural linguistics is the system – metaphorically: it is the engine

10. Structural linguistics and linguistics in society
Language in society is the USE – metaphorically: it is the car

11. Structural linguistics and linguistics in society
In other words,
You can’t drive a car without an engine
You don’t need a car engine if you’re not going to drive the car
ERGO, if we apply this to language: we need the system (engine) in order to be able use the system (car) and vice versa.

12. What is this?

13. Structural Linguistics?

14. Structural linguistics
The system (the engine) without which you cannot produce language
Defined; “the branch of linguistics that deals with language as a system of interrelated structures (…) emphasizing the accurate identification of syntactical and lexical form as opposed to meaning and historical development” (source: Google)

16. So, let us dissect these Morphology? Phonetics? Phonology? Syntax?
Semantics?

17. Morphology ?

18. Morphology Definition: the study of the forms of words
For example, studying how new words are formed entirely
This can be done in various ways such as affixation, backformation, blending, clipping, derivation, neologisms etc. – you will learn all about this later)
Let’s take an example (next slide)

19. Example: GAY ?

20. Morphology: gay
In the past, the word gay used to mean “cheerful” or “happy” or “jolly”
Today, it is associated with homosexuality
This is an issue of morphology (but also etymology of course)

21. Phonetics & Phonology
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

22. What’s the difference?

23. What’s the difference? Phonology – the level of the system
Phonetics – the level of the realization

24. Syntax
Definition: “The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language” (the dean’s class especially)
Example, CHINESE

25. Standard Chinese (based on a Beijing dialect of Mandarin)
LOGOGRAMS?

26. Standard Chinese (based on a Beijing dialect of Mandarin)

27. Semantics The study of science of meaning in language
The competence of the speaker with regard to the interpretation of the meaning of linguistic structures.
example; next slide

28. Something like this

29. Semantics
This is what we call a garden path sentence: in other words, the reader’s interpretation of the sentence is almost always incorrect.

30. Part 2: Linguistics, Communication and Society……
The relationship between language and society
Monolingualism, bilingualism and multilingualism
Diglossia
And more importantly… (see next slide)

31. Language and interaction in KOSOVO (week 7-12)
Multilingualism
Albanians- Serbs
The rise of English