introduction to linguistics day one n what is a language?

Introduction to LinguisticsIntroduction to LinguisticsDay OneDay One


What is a language?What is a language?


What is a language?What is a language?– French, Spanish, English?French, Spanish, English?



What does a linguist mean by What does a linguist mean by language?language?



What does a linguist mean by What does a linguist mean by language?language?– A human means of communication, A human means of communication,

spoken, written or gestured.spoken, written or gestured.


What is linguistics?What is linguistics?


What is linguistics?What is linguistics?– The study of human language, a The study of human language, a

cognitive science, a social science.cognitive science, a social science.


What is linguistics?What is linguistics?– The study of human language, a The study of human language, a

cognitive science, a social sciencecognitive science, a social science

– What is a linguist?What is a linguist? Someone who studies human language, Someone who studies human language,

not someone who speaks many not someone who speaks many languages, or studies many languages.languages, or studies many languages.


How many languages are there?How many languages are there?


How many languages are there?How many languages are there?– About 4,000 or so.About 4,000 or so.



What’s the difference between a What’s the difference between a language and a dialect?language and a dialect?



What’s the difference between a What’s the difference between a language and a dialect?language and a dialect?– Essentially none; it’s better to use the Essentially none; it’s better to use the

term “regional variation”term “regional variation”


What’s the matter with the word What’s the matter with the word dialect?dialect?


What’s the matter with the word What’s the matter with the word dialect?dialect?– It presupposes a theoretically pure It presupposes a theoretically pure

state of a language which has never state of a language which has never existed, and is generally used to existed, and is generally used to separate out certain groups in society separate out certain groups in society from the whole or the elite, as from the whole or the elite, as somehow being less or inferior.somehow being less or inferior.


What’s diglossia?What’s diglossia?


What’s diglossia?What’s diglossia?– When two languages exist in the When two languages exist in the

same community, but have different same community, but have different social roles. Example: High and Low social roles. Example: High and Low German.German.


What’s diglossia?What’s diglossia?– When two languages exist in the When two languages exist in the

same community, but have different same community, but have different social roles. Example: High and Low social roles. Example: High and Low German.German.

Is this the same as bilingualism?Is this the same as bilingualism?– No, not necessarily.No, not necessarily.


What’s Diachronic and Synchronic What’s Diachronic and Synchronic study of a language?study of a language?



– Diachronic studies language change Diachronic studies language change over time.over time.



– Diachronic studies language change Diachronic studies language change over time.over time.

– Synchronic studies a language in its Synchronic studies a language in its current state.current state.


What is language obsolescence?What is language obsolescence?


What is language obsolescence?What is language obsolescence?– Generally occurs in a state of Generally occurs in a state of

diglossia, can result in language diglossia, can result in language death.death.




How fast are languages dying?How fast are languages dying?




How fast are languages dying?How fast are languages dying?– During the 21st century, about 90% During the 21st century, about 90%

of the world’s languages will die.of the world’s languages will die.


What is grammar?What is grammar?


What is grammar?What is grammar?– An artificially constructed set of rules An artificially constructed set of rules

to govern how languages are taught. to govern how languages are taught. We’ll try to get away from that word We’ll try to get away from that word until we gain a linguistic until we gain a linguistic understanding of it.understanding of it.


What are some of the other things What are some of the other things we’ll look at?we’ll look at?


What are some of the other things What are some of the other things we’ll look at?we’ll look at?– Semantics, syntax, phonology, Semantics, syntax, phonology,

phonetics, phonemes and much much phonetics, phonemes and much much moremore

introduction to linguistics day one n what is a language?

Documents

language obsolescence

language death

linguisticsday oneintroduction

study of human language

worlds languages

state of diglossia

synchronic study

synchronic studies