Linguistics Department
What is Linguistics?
Just what is Linguistics?
One of the most remarkable aspects
of the human mind is
the ability to acquire and use the rich and complex system of knowledge that is language.
At an age when tying one's shoelaces still presents a major challenge, virtually all
children are already quite competent in the language of their environment. These
observations have led to two of the primary questions confronting linguists: "What
is it that humans know when they know a language?" and "How do humans acquire that knowledge?"
As we begin to answer these and related questions, we find fascinating insights into the
nature of human cognition.
Two central areas within linguistic study are theoretical linguistics and historical
linguistics. There is also a tremendous variety of interdisciplinary work between
linguistics and other fields.
Theoretical linguists seek to describe and explain the complexities of the human linguistic system. They have determined that, in spite of the many superficial differences across languages, all human languages have the same fundamental structure and, at the deepest levels, work in the same way. Typically, the field is broken down into three sub-fields: syntax (sentence structure); phonology (sound structure); and morphology (word structure).
Historical linguists examine the ways in which languages change over time and also how languages are related to one another. This often involves looking at many different types of historical records, from rock inscriptions such as the Karkemish inscription above to birch-bark manuscripts. Using a variety of methods, historical linguists are also able to reconstruct what languages were like in earlier historical periods.
Interdisciplinary Areas:
Neurolinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Biolinguistics, Anthropological
Linguistics, Psycholinguistics