ALEXIS NARANDAN
BSED-ENGLISH
INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
Language is defined as linguistic communication,
speech communication, cognitive ability, and
cultured-based.
▪ Verbal Communication – focuses on how
language is used to convey thoughts, ideas
emotions, and information through
spoken/written words. using of voice
▪ Cognitive Ability (Mental Process) – an
instrument of thinking. It reflects the way
individuals perceive the world, formulate
ideas, tackle problems, and convey
concepts.
▪ Linguistic Communication – it enables
individual to understand the thoughts,
emotions, and information through structural
& functional aspects of language
▪ Cultured Based – communicating the culture
of a particular community or members of
society. It emphasizes the influence of culture
on language. It reflects the cultural values,
beliefs, norms, and identity.
Language Views
▪ Structuralists – assert that language
operates as a systematic arrangement of
components, each contributing to a coherent
framework of ideas. They argue that language,
functioning as a system, exhibits a structured
nature, dictating the characteristics of its
constituent elements.
- According to this perspective, the structures
inherent in language collectively shape its
deeper conceptual framework, transcending
mere surface-level meanings.
▪ Transformationalists – They are linguistic
theorists who emphasize the role of
transformations in generating different
surface structures from a single underlying
deep structure.
- Surface Structure – the way they are
expressed
- Deep Structure – the underlying meaning.
- Transformational rules manipulate these
structures to generate grammatical
sentences, highlighting the flexibility and
creativity inherent in the language.
▪ Functionalists – are linguistic theorists who
focus on the pragmatic functions of language
within social contexts. They emphasize how
language serves communicative purposes
and facilities social interaction, rather than
solely focusing on its formal structures.
- They explore how language adapts to meet
the needs of users in various situations,
highlighting its role in achieving social goals
and maintaining social cohesion.
▪ Interactionists – emphasize the dynamic
interplay between language, cognition, and
social interaction. They study how language
use emerges and evolves through interactive
processes, considering both individual
cognitive factors and social contexts.
- They investigate how communication shapes
and is shaped by social interactions,
highlighting the reciprocal relationship
between language and society.
Nature of Language – encompasses its fundamental
properties and functions as a complex system of
communication and expression used by humans.
▪ Language as something learnt – Language is
a learned behavior, acquired through
exposure, interaction with social contexts.
▪ Language as related to the culture of
society – Language is intimately linked to the
culture of society, serving as a reflection and
vehicle of its norms, values, beliefs, and
traditions. Through language, cultural
knowledge is transmitted across generations,
shaping identity, worldview, and social
interactions.
▪ Language as species-specific, uniformed,
and unique to humans – Language is
regarded as species-specific, being a trait
unique to humans. Unlike other forms of
animal communication, human language
exhibits a high degree of complexity, enabling
us to convey abstract concepts, discuss the
past and future, and express emotions and
beliefs.
▪ Language as a system – operates as a
structured system comprising
interconnected elements such as sounds,
words, grammar, and meaning.
▪ Language as a vocal – it utilizes sounds
produced by the human vocal apparatus to
convey meaning and facilitate
communication. Vocal language
encompasses various features such as
intonation, rhythm, and stress, which can
contribute to conveying nuances of meaning
and expressing emotions.
▪ Language as a skill subject – Language is
often regarded as a skill subject, emphasizing
its acquisition and development through
learning and practice. As a skill, language
involves the mastery of various components
such as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation,
and communication strategies.
▪ Language as a means for communication –
it serves as a primary means for
communication, facilitating the exchange of
information, ideas, emotions, and intentions
among individuals.
▪ Language as arbitrary – the relationship
between linguistic signs and their meanings is
based on convention rather than inherent
logic or necessity.
ALEXIS NARANDAN
BSED-ENGLISH
Characteristics of Language ▪ Humanness – in language refers to unique
▪ Conventional and Non-Instinctive – it is traits such as complexity, productivity, and
based on socially agreed-upon conventions creativity. It encompasses our ability to
rather than innate biological instincts. convey abstract ideas, innovate linguistically,
▪ Productivity and Creativity – Language is and use of language as a tool for social
highly productivity, enabling speakers to interaction, distinguishing human connection
generate and understand in infinite number of from other species.
novel utterances. Language users exhibit by
constantly innovating and adapting linguistic
expressions to meet their communicative
needs. Speakers can manipulate language
creatively to convey nuanced meanings,
express emptions, or evoke imagery.
- Together, productivity and creativity highlight
the flexibility and adaptability of language as
a communicative system, allowing speakers
to express an endless array of thoughts,
ideas, and emotions in diverse contexts.
▪ Duality – of patterning allows for the creation
of an infinite number of meaningful
expressions from a finite set of discrete
elements. This hierarchical structure is a
fundamental feature of human language and
contributes to its productivity and flexibility.
▪ Displacement – refers to the ability of
language to convey information about things
and events that are not present in the
immediate physical context. Unlike other
forms of animal communication, which are
often tied to the here and now, human
language allows speakers to talk about past
experiences, future plans, hypothetical
situations, and abstract concepts.
- The characteristic of displacement is crucial
for human communication, as it enables
individuals to share knowledge, memories,
and ideas beyond their immediate
surroundings.