Linguistics is a fascinating field that studies language and its structure. How cool, right? The study dates back to the 19th century when a Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure, made significant contributions to the field with his groundbreaking book “Course in General Linguistics.”
Let’s explore what it means, as well as branches of linguistics, types of linguistics, and language vs linguistics. This is going to be a very down-to-earth article that everyone can understand, because I think knowledge should be accessible to everyone 😊
After reading this article, you’ll be fully equipped to impress your teachers, or maybe embark on a linguistic adventure of your own and become part of the linguistic society! My adventure started seven years ago when I decided to major in English, during which time I studied this field extensively.
What is Linguistics?
It is the scientific study of language and all its aspects, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. For a Cambridge Dictionary definition, click here. In simple terms, it’s the study of how we use words and sounds to talk to each other. Think of it as the CSI of language—linguists are basically detectives that study different clues to understand how language works. So, the purpose of linguistics is to understand how language works, how it is used by individuals (but also communities), and how it influences how we see the world. To achieve this, it draws on various different areas such as anthropology, psychology, and computer science. It’s such an all-encompassing field that it’s really hard not to geek out on a daily basis. I certainly do!
Branches of Linguistics
It has several branches, and each one focuses on a different aspect of language. The 5 most studied branches are:
- Phonetics – the study of speech sounds and their physical properties
- Morphology – the study of the structure of words and how they are formed
- Syntax – the study of the structure of sentences and how they are organized
- Semantics – the study of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
- Phonology – the study of how sounds are used in language
However, there are many other ones, such as language acquisition, and conversation analysis.
Different types
The types of linguistics shouldn’t be confused with branches—the former refers to different approaches or perspectives in linguistics, and the latter to different areas of study. Some of the most common types are:
- Descriptive linguistics
- Theoretical linguistics
- Neurolinguistics
- Psycholinguistics
- Applied Linguistics
Some of these types also have their subtypes. For example, forensic linguistics is a subtype that I actually wrote a cool article about, so check it out!
Language vs Linguistics
I see these terms used interchangeably at times, but they are not. To put it simply, language is a system of communication, while linguistics is the study of that system. The former is the phenomena, and we use the latter to study that phenomena. Easy, right?
Benefits of Studying This Field
Benefit number one of studying linguistics…you get to become a language geek! I’m pretty sure you’ll be the coolest person at every party you’re invited to. No, seriously, the benefits are endless. To name a few:
- Improved communication skills – you’ll know how language actually works, so you’ll be able to apply that knowledge more naturally
- Better analytical skills – the study of language is a science and science needs to be analyzed, so think math, graphs, Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory etc.
- Career opportunities – and I’m not talking about translation, teaching (which are, of course, an option), get ready to explore a wide range of fields!
- Personal growth – I’m so passionate about linguistics & language that I get to own a blog where I talk about these topics!
That is it, you guys. By now, you should have a solid understanding of what this field is all about, and who knows, maybe you’ll decide to study it as well (welcome to the geek club). I assure you that it’s not only fascinating, but also incredibly rewarding!
