INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
An introductory linguistics course that aims to provide fundamental concepts on
language teaching and learning theories. The course includes demonstrating
understanding of different views of language characteristics, conducting discourse
analysis using linguistic concepts, applying language learning theories to teaching, and
using language concepts in specific contexts. It provides an overview of the
scientific study of language, covering its structure, meaning, and use. It
typically explores various subfields like phonetics, phonology, morphology,
syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Common Course Objectives:
Understanding linguistic concepts:
Students will learn key terms and principles in linguistics.
Analyzing language scientifically:
Students will develop the ability to analyze language phenomena using linguistic
methods.
Exploring different perspectives:
It may introduce structuralist, transformationalist, functionalist, and interactionist
views on language.
Applying linguistic knowledge:
Students will apply their understanding to language teaching, learning, and other
fields.
Typical Topics Covered:
Phonetics:
The study of speech sounds, including their articulation and acoustic properties.
Phonology:
The study of sound systems in languages focusing on how sounds are organized and
used.
Morphology:
The study of word structure including how words are formed from smaller units.
Syntax:
The study of sentence structure and how words are combined to form phrases and
sentences.
Semantics:
The study of meaning in language, including lexical semantics, sentence meaning,
and logical semantics.
Pragmatics:
The study of language use in context, including how meaning is affected by situations
and speakers.
Sociolinguistics:
The study of the relationship between language and society.
Psycholinguistics:
The study of the mental processes involved in language.
Apart from simply understanding the intricacies of world languages, this knowledge can
be applied to improving communication between people, contributing to translation
activities, assisting in literacy efforts, and treating speech disorders.
Language and Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language, while language is a body of
knowledge about speaking, reading or writing. In other words, language is a way of
communication between groups of people. Therefore, most often the linguist's goal is to
discover the'' laws of human language.
Linguistic theory aims to explain the nature of human language in terms of basic
underlying principles. Linguists study the structure of natural languages to gain a better
understanding of those principles.
Linguistics encompasses several branches that study language from different
perspectives. Key areas include phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics,
pragmatics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and computational
linguistics.
Here's a breakdown with examples:
Core Areas:
Phonetics:
Studies the physical properties of speech sounds (e.g., how the sounds /p/, /t/, and /k/ are
produced in the mouth).
Phonology:
Examines the sound patterns of a language (e.g., how sounds are combined to form words in
English, like the different pronunciations of "cat" and "cats").
Morphology:
Focuses on the structure of words (e.g., how the word "unbreakable" is formed from the
morphemes "un-", "break", and "-able").
Syntax:
Analyzes sentence structure and the rules for combining words into grammatically correct
sentences (e.g., the difference between "The cat chased the mouse" and "The mouse chased the
cat").
Semantics:
Deals with meaning (e.g., the meaning of words like "happy" or "sad," or the different
interpretations of a sentence like "The dog bit the man" vs. "The man bit the dog").
Pragmatics:
Studies language use in context (e.g., understanding the implied meaning of "It's cold in here"
when said to someone standing near a window).
Other Important Branches:
Historical Linguistics:
Examines language change over time (e.g., how English has evolved from Old English to Modern
English).
Sociolinguistics:
Investigates the relationship between language and society (e.g., how social factors like class,
gender, and age influence language use).
Psycholinguistics:
Studies the cognitive processes involved in language (e.g., how people understand and produce
language, language acquisition in children).
Computational Linguistics:
Applies computational techniques to analyze and process language (e.g., developing language
translation software or speech recognition systems).
Applied Linguistics:
Uses linguistic theory to address real-world problems (e.g., language teaching, language policy,
speech therapy).
Discourse Analysis:
Examines language use beyond the sentence level, focusing on larger units like conversations or
written texts.
Stylistics:
Studies the use of different language styles in various contexts.
Neurolinguistics:
Studies the neural mechanisms underlying language.
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LINGUISTICS AND THE TECHNIQUES OF TEACHING
-We know a lot about language, but hardly the language itself. Knowing much about language
necessarily implies facility in it, hence mastery of it. Teaching and learning a language depend on
Approach, Method, and Technique.
Approach is the point of view, a philosophy with theories, basic assumptions, and guiding
principles ..
Method is an overall schematic framework, a skeletal outline for the sequential systematic
presentation of an activity in conformity with the approach.
Techniques are the many ways used in accomplishing specific objectives, and in line with
the methods presented.
Thus the hierarchical arrangement is:
Approach -Axiomatic
Method- Procedural
Technique – Implementational
To illustrate:
A. Approach -Principles on
1. Nature of Language – Language is sound.
2. Nature of language teaching and learning- Language learning is mainly a linguistic
habit formation.
3. Nature of the language to be taught -The Lesson should be realistic and useful to
the learners.
B. The method used must be consistent with the principles of the approach.
1. Audio-Lingual
2. Mim-Mim and pattern practice
3. Situational or contextual
C. Techniques used to carry out a method. For instance, in teaching sounds:
1. Imitation of the sound
2. Using a chart or a diagram of the speech organs showing how a particular sound is
produced and what speech articulators are involved.
3. Placing a one-eighth size of paper in front of the mouth for the aspirated
allophone /P/.
Any country adopts a second language, that is, a language learned after the first language, which
is the language learned first in time by a child at the age of 6. How language is effectively taught
and learned depends on the concept of approach, the various methods, and the techniques.
In the Philippines, English as a Second language and English as a Foreign Language are used
interchangeably, yet there is no doubt a distinction between them..
-English as a Second Language is aptly used in countries where it is the medium of
instruction, or the lingua franca among speakers of diverse languages..
-English as a Foreign Language is used in situations where English is taught simply as a
school subject or as a highly specialized course to enable the students to read literature or
technical works.
The learning process differs in the later stages, but the basic methods are similar in the beginning
stage. The second language is an approach, not a method. Second language uses several
methods and is associated with different techniques..
Several factors influence the methods used in language teaching, especially in its linguistic set-up:
1. The place of the language in the curriculum and the time allotted to it in a particular
course;
2. Materials, textbooks used should be based on a contrastive analysis of the native and
the target language;
3. Teaching aims to let learners acquire speaking, reading, or writing skills, and not just
plain reading and translation knowledge of the target language.
4. The age, cultural background, and previous experience of the learners with the new
language.
The basis of modern language teaching is descriptive linguistics. NO other science has described
language more accurately than descriptive linguistics. Linguistics as a science is the foundation of
all language learning, and the findings of this science must be applied in language teaching. No
single method or technique is the best. Every language teaching and learning situation is unique in
itself; hence, it demands a unique method and technique, Example -Selective listening/
