General Linguistics Overview

The scientific study of language, including its structure, sounds, and meaning.

The study of speech sounds.

The study of sound systems in languages.

The study of word formation.

The arrangement of words to form grammatical sentences.

The study of meaning in language.

How language use is influenced by context.

Language follows rules and patterns that connect words and create structure.

Human language's ability to talk about things that are not present or real, unlike animal communication, which typically only describes the here and now.

Language relies on the sentence's internal structure, not just the number of elements, to convey meaning. Changing element positions or omitting elements might still convey a possible meaning.

Languages have predictable patterns in word order and the substitution of items; every part of a language has a specific place and can be combined or replaced with other items.

Language uses distinct and separate units; individual sounds (phonemes) are different and affect the meaning of words.

Human language is primarily transmitted through sounds produced by the vocal organs and received by the ears.

Anyone who can transmit language can also receive it; the roles of speaker and listener can be switched.

Language signals have no other purpose; they are solely for communication and do not overlap with functions like eating or breathing.

Understanding language requires knowledge of grammar and the context in which it is used.

The ability to use language appropriately in different situations, considering grammar, context, and social norms.

A school of thought that emphasizes the internal structure and relationships within language, analyzing how elements work together as a system.

Langue: The abstract system of a language shared by its speakers. Parole: The actual speech or utterances made by individuals.

The underlying system of rules and structures that govern a language, shared by all speakers.

An individual's actual use of language, specific utterances spoken or written in a given situation.

Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist who is considered the father of European Structuralism.

Saussure's work led to the foundation of contemporary linguistics, focusing on the structure and system of language.

Saussure sees language as a system of signs, focusing on the relationship between sound (signifier) and meaning (signified).

One linguistic unit is chosen from a set of possible units, like grammatical cases. It's about substitution.

Words are linked together in a sequence within an utterance, following grammatical rules. It's about the order of words.

Describes a language at a specific point in time, like a snapshot.

Considered the father of modern American linguistics, his work emphasized observable language and focused on structural analysis.

Starting with observed language data, the linguist identifies patterns and rules to understand the system of the language.

Observing and measuring language as a physical phenomenon, using data to understand its workings.

Explains language as learned through conditioned responses and habits, linking stimuli to responses.

A set of rules that can generate all the possible grammatical sentences of a language, and only those sentences.

The part of grammar that deals with the structure of sentences, how words are combined into phrases and clauses.

The component of grammar that deals with how sounds are organized and pronounced in a language.

The part of grammar that deals with the meaning of sentences, including the relationship between words and their meanings.

A type of generative grammar that uses transformations to relate different forms of sentences. It's closer to traditional grammar.

The underlying meaning of a sentence, representing the basic proposition.

The actual form of a sentence as it is spoken or written.

Transformational rules that manipulate the deep structure to derive the surface structure of a sentence.

The listener's use of additional knowledge to understand what isn't explicitly said.

Everyone in a conversation assumes others will contribute helpfully to make the exchange work.

Say enough, but not too much. Give just the right amount of information.

Be truthful and accurate in your contributions to the conversation.

Stay on topic. Make sure your contributions are relevant to the current conversation.

Speak clearly, avoid being confusing and be organized in your thoughts.

An unstated meaning that the listener must infer to understand the speaker's true intention.

When a speaker breaks one of the cooperative principles, there's often a hidden reason or intention.