linguistics

/lɪŋˈgwɪstɪks/

/lɪŋˈgwɪstɪks/

Linguistics is the formal study of language. If you like figuring out how words are formed and how they express meaning, you might enjoy studying the science of linguistics.

Academics use the term linguistics to describe the science of language. Linguistics includes a broad range of topics ranging from how people learn languages to how phrases and sentences are formed. Remember that linguistics is a plural noun: although it takes a singular verb, it always has an “s” at the end. If you drop the “s” you get a different word, the adjective linguistic, which means "related to language."

Definitions of linguistics

1. noun

   the scientific study of language
   types:

   computational linguistics

   the use of computers for linguistic research and applications

   dialect geography, linguistic geography

   the study of the geographical distribution of linguistic features

   etymology

   the study of the sources and development of words

   diachronic linguistics, diachrony, historical linguistics

   the study of linguistic change

   neurolinguistics

   the branch of linguistics that studies the relation between language and the structure and function of the nervous system

   pragmatics

   the study of language use

   semantics

   the study of language meaning

   sociolinguistics

   the study of language in relation to its sociocultural context

   structural linguistics, structuralism

   linguistics defined as the analysis of formal structures in a text or discourse

   synchronic linguistics

   the study of a language without reference to its historical context

   descriptive linguistics

   a description (at a given point in time) of a language with respect to its phonology and morphology and syntax and semantics without value judgments

   prescriptive linguistics

   an account of how a language should be used instead of how it is actually used; a prescription for the `correct' phonology and morphology and syntax and semantics

   MT, machine translation

   the use of computers to translate from one language to another

   grammar

   the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics)

   phonemics, phonology

   the study of the sound system of a given language and the analysis and classification of its phonemes

   morphophonemics

   the study of the phonological realization of the allomorphs of the morphemes of a language

   lexicostatistics

   a statistical technique used in glottochronology; used to estimate how long ago different languages evolved from a common source language

   deixis

   the function of pointing or specifying from the perspective of a participant in an act of speech or writing; aspects of a communication whose interpretation depends on knowledge of the context in which the communication occurs

   formal semantics

   the branch of semantics that studies the logical aspects of meaning

   lexical semantics

   the branch of semantics that studies the meanings and relations of words

   cognitive semantics, conceptual semantics, semasiology

   the branch of semantics that studies the cognitive aspects of meaning

   type of:

   science, scientific discipline

   a particular branch of scientific knowledge
2. noun

   the humanistic study of language and literature
   synonyms: philology

   types:

   dialectology

   the branch of philology that is devoted to the study of dialects

   lexicology

   the branch of linguistics that studies the lexical component of language

   onomastics

   the branch of lexicology that studies the forms and origins of proper names

   toponomy, toponymy

   the branch of lexicology that studies the place names of a region or a language

   type of:

   arts, humanistic discipline, humanities, liberal arts

   studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)