Linguistics is the scientific study of languages. We study linguistics to become better language learners and we study linguistics to become better language teachers.

Linguistics impacts our daily life in interesting ways. For example, we need linguistics for Google searches. Search engines have been linguistically programmed to search the web for related words.

Linguistics is important for translating. There are 100’s of languages that are oral; for a variety of political and practical reasons, these languages have no written form. Linguists and translators have worked over the centuries to codify unique languages.

Linguistics is a complex field of study. The subfields of linguistics include phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and computational linguistics.

When we study linguistics, we study design features of language systems. For example,

·       Messages are sent and received through a variety of modes of communication.

·       Semantics is the study of the messages of words and symbols.

·       Pragmatics is the study of the purposes of language use.

·       Linguists study the interchangeability of words when we send and receive messages.

·       Language can be arbitrary when we see little connection between words and their meaning.

·       Language is “productive” in the respect that we combine a finite number of words into an infinite number of unique ways to communicate. 

Linguistics is fun! When we study linguistics, we learn why the English spelling system allows “ough” to be pronounced differently in ‘through,’ ‘drought,’ tough’, ‘cough’, and ‘though.’

When we study linguistics, we learn how to analyze phrases like “dua orang laki-laki” in Malay-Indonesian.

When we study linguistics, we learn how language functions, like suggestions, warnings, or compliments, are built.   

LCC International University MA TESOL program offers a 7-week online, asynchronous course in linguistics which begins January 2, 2024. Make your news year’s resolution today by enrolling in ENG 510 Linguistics to become fluent in the science of language.

Apply now: https://lcc.lt/machform/view.php?id=89644

Author: Robin Gingerich, Ph.D., MA TESOL Program Director at LCC International University.