Staff Site Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
Introduction to Linguistics
Week 4
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
1
Theories in Linguistics
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
2
Linguistics Divisions
Theoretical vs. Applied: Theoretical (or general)
linguistics is concerned with frameworks for describing
individual languages and theories about universal aspects
of language; applied linguistics applies these theories to
practical problems such as language teaching, speech
synthesis, or speech therapy.
Autonomous vs. Contextual (note: these terms are not
well-established): Autonomous linguistics studies what
Saussure called langue or what Chomsky calls I[nternal]language: the nature of language abstracting away from
many aspects of its day-to-day usage. Contextual
linguistics is concerned with what Saussure called parole
or what Chomsky calls E[xternal]-language, namely how
language fits into the world: its social function, or its use in
the broader context of human behavior.
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
3
The central concern of autonomous theoretical linguistics is to
characterize the nature of human linguistic ability, or competence: to
explain what it is that an individual knows when an individual knows
a language, and to explain how it is that individuals come to know
languages. All humans (setting aside extremely pathological cases)
achieve competence in whatever language is spoken around them
when they are growing up (or signed, in the case of sign language),
without formal instruction being necessary. Non-humans do not.
Therefore, there is some basic innate property of humans that
causes them to learn language. Since children learn whatever
language is spoken around them, there is no genetic basis for the
differences between one language and another.
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
4
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
5
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
6
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
7
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
8
Week 4
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
1
Theories in Linguistics
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
2
Linguistics Divisions
Theoretical vs. Applied: Theoretical (or general)
linguistics is concerned with frameworks for describing
individual languages and theories about universal aspects
of language; applied linguistics applies these theories to
practical problems such as language teaching, speech
synthesis, or speech therapy.
Autonomous vs. Contextual (note: these terms are not
well-established): Autonomous linguistics studies what
Saussure called langue or what Chomsky calls I[nternal]language: the nature of language abstracting away from
many aspects of its day-to-day usage. Contextual
linguistics is concerned with what Saussure called parole
or what Chomsky calls E[xternal]-language, namely how
language fits into the world: its social function, or its use in
the broader context of human behavior.
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
3
The central concern of autonomous theoretical linguistics is to
characterize the nature of human linguistic ability, or competence: to
explain what it is that an individual knows when an individual knows
a language, and to explain how it is that individuals come to know
languages. All humans (setting aside extremely pathological cases)
achieve competence in whatever language is spoken around them
when they are growing up (or signed, in the case of sign language),
without formal instruction being necessary. Non-humans do not.
Therefore, there is some basic innate property of humans that
causes them to learn language. Since children learn whatever
language is spoken around them, there is no genetic basis for the
differences between one language and another.
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
4
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
5
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
6
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
7
September 5, 2017
intro to ling/ssn/2007
8