Unit1: Introduction of linguistics and its scope: By Ammar Anas: After this lesson you will learn:

Different definitions of language Critical understanding of associated concepts with language Features of language

What is language? (1) Language is a symbol system based on pure or arbitrary con entions! infinitely e"tendable and modifiable according to the changing needs and conditions of the spea#ers$ (%obins: 1&'() ()) Language is purely human and non*instincti e method of communicating ideas+ emotions+ and desires by means of a system of oluntarily produced symbols$ (,apir: 1&)1) (-) Language is institutions whereby humans communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually used oral*auditory arbitrary symbols$ (.all: 1&/&) (0) A language is a set (finite or infinite) of sentences+ each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements$ (1oam 2homs#y: 1&(3) (() A language is system of arbitrary ocal symbols used for human communications$ (Wardaugh: 1&3)) (/) A language is a system of arbitrary ocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates$ (4loch 5 6iger: 1&0)) (3) Language is undoubtedly a #ind of means of communication among human beings$ It consists primarily of ocal sounds$ It is articulatory+ systematic+ symbolic+ and arbitrary$ (7esbyshire: 1&/3) (') Language is a system of con entional spo#en or written symbols by means of which human beings as members of a social group and participants in its culture+ communicate$ (8ncyclopaedia 4ritannica) (&) Language are the principal systems of communication used by particular groups of human beings within the particular society (Linguistic community) of which they are members$ (Lyons: 1&39) (19) Language is the system of human communication which consists of the structured arrangement of sounds (or their written representation) into larger units+ e$g$ :orphemes+ Words+ ,entences+ and Utterances$ (Longman 7ictionary: )99))

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Features of Language: 7iscuss the following features of language in group$ Write the name of the person or source which refers to that particular feature in the gi en definitions$ 2olumn A Language is a means of communication$ Language is arbitrary$ Language is system of system$ Language is primarily ocal$ Language is human$ It is not found in animal$ Language is a form of social beha ior$ Language is a symbol system$ Language is creati e and producti e$ Language is interchangeable$ 2olumn 4

Mark true or false to the following statements and discuss the reason of their being true or false. 1$ Language is not modifiable according to the changing needs and conditions of the spea#ers$ )$ All human being communicate by the means of a same language$ -$ Arbitrary con entions means there is no relationship between the linguistic form of a word and its meaning$ 0$ 2ommunication is possible only by using a language$ ($ Animals ha e their own language as human beings ha e theirs$ /$ ;A language is a system< means it has its grammar and it wor#s according to that grammar$ 3$ Words+ sentences+ and utterances are forms of a language$ '$ ;Language is non =instincti e< means no child is born with the ability of using language$ .e>she ac?uires through his>her family and his >her society$ &$ .indi spea#ers+ Arabic spea#ers and 8nglish spea#ers are one linguistic community$ 19$ 6he word system and communication are opposite of each other$

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.andout 1: Unit1: Introduction of linguistics and its scope: By Ammar Anas:

Some questions: (1) How many languages are used all around the world? (2) Is it possible for a person to know all languages of the word? (3) What is the difference between knowing a language and analy ing a language? After this lesson you will learn: What is linguistics Its scope Its relevance with other disciplines

Some facts about linguistics: Linguistics is the study of language as a system of human communication. Linguistics does not mean to know a language. A person who doesnt know Chinese can be a linguist (a person who speciali es in the study of language! Linguistics is a science because its data can be analy ed empirically. Linguistics is a social science because e"ists in interaction between human being in society. Linguistics is applicable in different disciplines of knowledge. (Scope!

#efining Linguistics: Linguistics is the scientific study of human languages. $n linguistics% linguists in&estigates the mechanism of language% its parts and how all these parts fit together to perform particular functions and why they are arranged or organi ed in a certain manner. $t concerns itself with describing and e"plaining the nature of human language. Linguists (Speciali ed persons in linguistics! try to answer the questions as following: ('! (*! (,! (-! (.! (/! (0! (1! (hat is uni&ersal to language) +ow human beings come to know languages) (hat properties do all human languages ha&e in common) +ow do languages differ% and to what e"tent are the differences systematic% i.e. can we find patterns in the differences) +ow do children acquire such complete knowledge of a language in such a short time) (hat are the ways in which languages can change o&er time) Are there limitations to how languages change) (hat is the nature of the cogniti&e processes that come into play when we produce and understand language)

Linguists assume that it is possible to study human language in general and that the study of particular languages will re&eal features of language that are uni&ersal. . . .
(Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication, 2nd ed !I" #ress, 2$$%&

Linguistics is concerned with the nature of language and (linguistic communication! 2 it studies structural components of language such as phonetics% morphology and synta"% and functional properties of language such as pragmatics. $t helps to understand how language is structured and how it functions. (A'ma(ian: 2$$%&

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Linguistics is the study of language as a system of human communication. Linguistics includes many different approaches to the study of language and many different areas of in&estigation% for e"ample sound systems (3honetics% % 3honology!% sentence structure (Synta"!% relationships between language and cognition (Cogniti&e Linguistics!% meaning systems (Semantics% 3ragmatics% 4unctions of language!% as well as language and social factors (sociolinguistics! (Longman )ictionar*: 2$$2& Linguistics5 has a twofold aim: to unco&er general principles underlying human language% and to pro&ide reliable descriptions of indi&idual languages.6
(+ean Atchison, in "he ,-ford Companion to the .nglish Language, ed "om !cArthur, %//2&

Linguistics is concerned with human language as a uni&ersal and recogni able part of the human beha&ior and of the human faculties perhaps one of the most essential to human life as we know it% and one of the most far 7 reaching of human capabilities in relation to the whole span of mankinds achie&ement. (0obins :%/12& Scope of Linguistics: Linguistics is an independent sub8ect today. $n past it was a part of philosophy of language and the history of language. Linguistics is a modern name which defines a specific discipline in which we study language not in relation to some other areas such as history or philosophy but language itself. 9he primary sub8ect of linguistics is phonetic% phonology% morphology% synta"% and pragmatics. 9he main function of linguistics is to describe the nature of language% its structure and component of language structure and to e"plain how the system of language works. 9he primary components which linguistics describes are: Phonetics : the study of speech sounds in general Phonology : the study of speech sounds in a particular language Morphology : the study of the formation of words Syntax : the study of the formation of sentences Semantics the study of meaning Pragmatics : the study of language use

$t is a fact that linguistics is a distinct area of study but it has connections and shares with many other disciplines in the humanities% the social sciences% and the natural sciences. Some of the closest connections are with 3hilosophy% Literature% Language 3edagogy% 3sychology% Sociology% 3hysics (acoustics!% ;iology (anatomy% neuroscience!% Computer Science% Computer <ngineering% +ealth Sciences (Aphasia% Speech 9herapy!. Applied linguistics: Historical linguistics: Neurolinguistics: Psycholinguistics: Sociolinguistics: Stylistics: Computational linguistics: Philosophical linguistics: 9he study of language:related issues applied in e&eryday life 9he study of language change o&er time 9he study of the structures in the human brain that underlie grammar and communication 9he study of the cogniti&e processes and representations underlying language use 9he study of &ariation in language and its relationship with social factors 9he study of linguistic factors (rhetoric% diction% stress! that place a discourse in conte"t 9he study of linguistic issues related with computer the study of 3hilosophical issues related with language

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Anthropological linguistics:

9he study of the relations between language and culture and relation between human biology% cognition and language.

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