1: What Is Linguistics? What Is Language?
- Page ID
- 199857
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)When you’ve completed this chapter, you’ll be able to:
- Differentiate between prescriptive and descriptive ways of thinking about language,
- Identify components of mental grammar,
- Explain some properties of all human languages,
- Describe some techniques for doing language science, and
- Discuss the ethics of doing language science.
In this chapter, we begin to explore what language is, and how language scientists (also known as linguists) think about it and observe it. It might well be that most of experience learning about language has had to do with rules that you could get right or wrong. That’s not the approach we’re taking in this book. Instead, we’re going to look at how to use the tools and techniques of linguistics to observe the patterns of human languages. From these observations, we’ll try to draw some conclusions about the abstract principles and organization of human language in people’s minds and in language communities. Along the way, we’ll also consider the ways that language science and people’s attitudes about language have bolstered colonial structures of power and privilege and have been used to do harm.
- 1.1: Linguistics as a social science
- The video script provides an introduction to linguistics as a social science. It distinguishes between social sciences and physical/biological sciences, highlighting that linguistics, like other social sciences, studies human behavior using scientific methods, focusing on descriptivism and inductive reasoning. The script notes that linguistics isn't solely about etymology or grammar but analyzes language and its use.
- 1.2: The resources used for this course
- The course/book is built using a variety of resources, including the primary textbook "Essentials of Linguistics" by Catherine Anderson and others, with an update in 2024. It also includes adapted information from other textbooks like "Introduction to Language" by Rodman, Fromkin, and Hyams, "Language Files" from Ohio State University, and "How Languages Work" edited by Genetti. Additional resources include various articles and YouTube videos, especially those from Anthony Pym.
- 1.3: Linguistics is a science
- The page discusses the science of linguistics, emphasizing its empirical and descriptive nature. Linguistics uses a scientific approach to study human language without making value judgments. The unique human articulatory, auditory, and neural systems contribute to our distinct language abilities. The exercises reinforce the concept that linguistics relies on empirical observations to develop theories of language behavior, focusing on describing language use rather than prescribing it.
- 1.4: What even is language?
- The text introduces linguistics as the scientific study of human language, exploring the concept of language, including individual languages like ASL and Xhosa, and other uses such as computer and body languages which are beyond linguistics' usual focus. It discusses the notion of mental grammar???a shared system enabling communication and understanding among language users. The text explains how grammar involves unconscious knowledge, covering phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics.
- 1.5: What grammars are and aren't
- The text discusses the concept of mental grammar, emphasizing that it's an internal system allowing mutual understanding in language. All languages possess this system, disproving claims that some "lack grammar." It argues against ranking languages as superior, likening this approach to scientific study, which doesn't prioritize subjects. The text also highlights grammar's inherent creativity, noting that language evolves as society does, leading to changes in vocabulary and structure.
- 1.7: Thinking about standards and “proper” grammar
- The page discusses linguistic bias and the concept of language standards, emphasizing the goal of treating all languages and dialects as equal from a linguistic perspective. It explores how social power dynamics lead to linguistic bias and the societal enforcement of standardized language varieties, often tied to power and privilege.
- 1.8: Doing harm with language science
- This page discusses the impact of Christian missionaries on Indigenous languages in Canada, highlighting how scientific methods in linguistics have been used to harm these languages. It stresses that the missionaries documented Indigenous languages to spread Christianity, which often led to inaccuracies and suppression of linguistic diversity.
- 1.9: Doing good with language science
- The page discusses the impact of linguistics and how it can address harms while also creating positive change. It explores various applications of linguistics, such as improving tech systems, aiding language revitalization for Indigenous communities, enhancing language teaching and speech therapy, and offering expertise in diverse industries like law and entertainment. Ultimately, it highlights the fundamental role of language in human interaction and understanding.
- 1.10: Hallmarks of human language
- This page discusses the essential properties of human language as outlined in Anderson's "Essentials of Linguistics." The key focus is on the creativity and generativity of human language, including the ability to express any concept and generate infinite new sentences using finite vocabulary and grammar principles.
- 1.11: Language and thought
- The page discusses the ongoing debate about the relationship between language and thought, highlighting whether language influences thought or vice versa. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which suggests linguistic determinism, has been largely debunked, though a softer version known as linguistic relativism suggests some connection. Concepts like "Thinking for Speaking" and cultural influences on language perception are mentioned.
- 1.12: Next steps and references
- Sarah Harmon outlines the structure for the remainder of a linguistics course, starting small with sounds and progressing to words, phrases, and meaning, covering the core areas like Phonetics, Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics. The course will later address speech communities, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, language acquisition, and language processing. Resources are recommended for deepening understanding, emphasizing the complexity and enjoyment of studying language patterns.
- 1.13: Exercise your linguistics skills
- This text provides exercises related to linguistics and language use. It invites readers to reflect on their first language, create a unique product name, analyze product name effectiveness, explore how mental grammar enables the formation of new words, and to identify and define a recent addition to the English language based on contextual usage.