September 5, 2017 intro to ling/ssn/2007 1
Introduction to Linguistics
September 5, 2017 intro to ling/ssn/2007 3
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
The central concern of autonomous theoretical linguistics is to
