An Introduction to Language

Definition

A means of communication

Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means

of which human beings cooperate/ communicate. (Bloch
and Trager)

two parts of this definition

the first part - about the structure of the

language

the second part - about its function.

System

Level of speech sounds : Phonetics

Level of speech sounds : Phonology

Level of word : Morphology

Level of sentence : Syntax

Level of meaning : Semantics

Level of speech sounds : Phonetics [phone]

the study of all existing / known speech sounds

without any reference to a particular language.

a very detailed study.

 The study of each and every aspect of a sound; its
articulation, pronunciation, acoustics,
characteristic/ distinctive features, etc.

The speech sound at this level is called a phone

and square brackets are used to represent a
phone.

Level of speech sounds : Phonology /phoneme/

Phonology is based on phonetics.

the study of speech sounds of a particular

language.

the study of sound system/ sound pattern of a

particular language.

Slashes / / are used for a phoneme which is the

basic unit of phonology.

Level of word : Morphology { morpheme}

the study of the structure of a word/words

the shape and form of the word

what a word is made up of

Difference between morphology and etymology.

Etymology is the study of the origin /history of

the word
 Level of sentence : Syntax phrase

The study of phrases and sentences

The study of sentence formation or how

sentences are formed.

Level of meaning : Semantics sememe

The study of meaning is called semantics.

Symbols

something that represents something else

p for the sound pa

g for the sound ga

Vocal

The symbols are spoken

Arbitrary

The symbols are illogical.

There is no logic behind why we call a table

table.