Linguistics is studies of language, in other words, science
of language.
It doesn’t focus on the rules
and use of languages.
Its focus is on describing
of language rules. So, we can say that linguistics is a descriptive discipline more than its prescriptive aspect.
There are some ways of doing linguistics:
For instance; when we mention about a certain time of language
which it was used. (E.g. in 2010)
This is called “synchronic” linguistics.
If we refer to a certain period of time, we are looking at
the language from a “diachronic”
viewpoint.
Diachronic linguistics analyses language development during a period of time. (E.g. during
Middle English or in the 1870s etc.)
Linguistics can be studied both in theoretical and applied way:
For example; searching how past forms are
structured in English is a theoretical study.
This knowledge can be also applied by a teacher in the class.
This is the applied way of linguistics studies.
Apart from this knowledge, I want to list the fields of study
of linguistics. These are divided into two groups:
Structure of Language
in Linguistics
Phonetics: The study and classification of
speech sounds.
Phonology: The study of phonological relationships within a language or
between different languages.
Morphology: The study of the forms of things, in particular:
Syntax: The study of the patterns of
formation of sentences and phrases from words.
Semantics: The branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning.
It is divided into two groups: Logical Semantics and Lexical Semantics.
Pragmatics: The branch of linguistics dealing with language in use and
the contexts in which it is used.
The Other Subfields of
Linguistics:
Historical Linguistics: The study of changes in a language or group of languages over a
period of time.
Sociolinguistics: The study of language in relation to
social factors, including differences of regional, class, and occupational
dialect, gender differences, and bilingualism.
Psycholinguistics: The study of the relationships between
linguistic behaviour and psychological processes, including the process of
language acquisition.
Ethnolinguistics: The branch of linguistics concerned
with the relations between linguistic and cultural behaviour.
Dialectology: The branch of linguistics concerned with the study of
dialects.
Computational Linguistics: The branch of linguistics in which the
techniques of computer science are applied to the analysis and synthesis of
language and speech.
Neurolinguistics: The branch of linguistics dealing with
the relationship between language and the structure and functioning of the
brain.
