Linguistics is the science concerned with studying the characteristics of human language.
The linguist is responsible for analyzing and investigating all the evolution and developments of the different languages, as well as the structure of words, idioms and phonetic aspects of each tongue.
The “father” of modern linguistics was the Swiss Ferdinand de Saussure, who contributed immensely to this science thanks to his study of language and speech.
According to Saussure's studies, human language is composed of several factors, with language being something that was imposed on the individual, as it belongs to the collective. Speech, on the other hand, is something individual, a particular act of each person.
For linguistics, all words that have a meaning are considered linguistic signs.
Linguistic signs are formed by the union of two concepts developed by Saussure: meaning and significant.
Meaning is the very concept of the sign, that is, the idea that one has of a certain word. Example: “house” as a dwelling or “dog” as a barking mammal animal.
The signifier, on the other hand, is the graphic and phonetic form of the sign that forms the word that is assigned to a given meaning.
Linguistics can still be divided into synchronic (the study of the language from a given time) or diachronic (study of the language throughout history).
The science of linguistics is further divided into different areas of study, such as:
- phonetics (sounds of speech);
- Phonology (phonemes);
- Morphology (formation, classification, structure and inflections of words);
- Syntax (relation of words to other sentences);
- Semantics (meaning of words);
- Stylistics (Resources to make writing more elegant or expressive, consisting mainly of Figures of Language and Language Vices).
- Lexicology (set of words in a language);
- pragmatics (speech used in everyday communication);
- Philology (language studied through ancient documents and writings).
Learn more about the meaning of Philology.
linguistic variation
Linguistic variation is a common phenomenon that happens within the same language, when historical, regional and cultural factors change the characteristics of the language of its speakers.
In Brazil, for example, even though the official language is Portuguese, each region of the country has its own linguistic particularities, due to the influence of regional historical contexts.
In addition to regionalism, linguistic variations can develop according to cultural and social conditions, giving rise to jargon and slang, for example.
Applied Linguistics
Applied linguistics is the use of this science directly to improve human communication.
The language teaching method is an example of applied linguistics, as all knowledge about the linguistic definitions of a given language is oriented towards the learning of other people.
See also the meaning of Language.
cognitive linguistics
Cognitive linguistics is one of the theoretical approaches that encompass the studies of Linguistics, which was born as an opposition to formal theories within the area, such as the so-called generative linguistics.
The differential of cognitive linguistics is in the way it analyzes the approach to language, through human experiences and relationships, and not as an “autonomous entity”.
Cognitive linguistics says that language is an integral part of cultural, psychological, functional and communicative factors of human beings with the world.
historical linguistics
Also known as diachronic linguistics, historical linguistics is concerned with studying the origin of languages, checking its development, its influences, the changes it has undergone over the years and the reasons for these changes.
Forensic Linguistics
This is the branch of applied linguistics aimed at studying language within the forensic context.
It is related to the interaction between language and the legal, judicial and ethical system.
The forensic linguist can be involved in the investigation and investigation of linguistic evidence in a crime, for example.
Learn more about the meaning of forensic.