What is the definition of descriptive linguistics?
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Julian Lopez
Works at the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Lives in Rome, Italy.
Descriptive linguistics is a branch of linguistics that focuses on the systematic description of languages as they are used by speakers in their natural contexts. It is concerned with the collection, analysis, and documentation of language data to understand the structure and function of a particular language or languages in a non-judgmental and objective manner. The primary goal of descriptive linguistics is to provide a detailed and accurate account of the linguistic phenomena observed, without prescribing how language should be used or what constitutes 'correct' usage.
Key Concepts in Descriptive Linguistics:
1. Language as a System: Descriptive linguists view language as a complex system made up of interrelated components, such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Each component contributes to the overall structure of the language.
2. Synchronic Analysis: Descriptive linguistics typically involves a synchronic analysis, which means it studies a language at a particular point in time, as opposed to diachronic analysis, which examines how a language changes over time.
3. Phonetics and Phonology: Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds, while phonology is the study of how these sounds function within a particular language to create meaning.
4. Morphology: This is the study of the structure and formation of words, including how smaller units of meaning, known as morphemes, combine to form words.
5. Syntax: Syntax involves the rules that govern the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
6. Semantics: Semantics is the study of meaning in language, looking at how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning.
7.
Pragmatics: Pragmatics goes beyond semantics to consider the context in which language is used and how this affects the interpretation of meaning.
8.
Language Variation: Descriptive linguists recognize and document the various forms of language variation, such as dialects, sociolects, and registers, acknowledging that no single form of a language is inherently superior or more 'correct' than another.
9.
Language Documentation: A significant part of descriptive linguistics involves the documentation of languages, especially those that are less well-known or endangered, to preserve linguistic diversity.
10.
Neutrality and Objectivity: Descriptive linguists strive for neutrality and objectivity in their descriptions, avoiding value judgments about language use.
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1. Language Universals: While focusing on the particularities of individual languages, descriptive linguistics also contributes to the identification of language universals—features that are common to all human languages.
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2. Language Change: Although descriptive linguistics is primarily concerned with the current state of a language, the detailed descriptions it produces can also be used to understand how languages change over time.
Methodology:
The methodology of descriptive linguistics involves several key steps:
- Data Collection: This can include fieldwork, where linguists immerse themselves in the communities where the language is spoken to gather spoken and written language data.
- Transcription: Recordings of speech are transcribed using the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to represent the phonetic details accurately.
- Analysis: The collected data is analyzed to identify the patterns and rules that govern the language's structure.
- Description: Based on the analysis, linguists write detailed descriptions of the language's phonology, grammar, and lexicon.
- Verification: The descriptions are checked against additional data to ensure their accuracy and completeness.
Significance:
Descriptive linguistics plays a crucial role in the broader field of linguistics. It provides the foundational data and descriptions necessary for other areas of linguistic study, such as historical linguistics, which examines language change over time, and comparative linguistics, which compares the structures of different languages. Moreover, it is essential for language teaching, translation, and the development of language technologies.
Descriptive linguistics also has practical applications, such as informing language policy and planning, particularly in multilingual societies. It can help in the creation of language standards, the development of writing systems for previously unwritten languages, and the design of language education curricula.
In summary, descriptive linguistics is a fundamental discipline within linguistics that aims to provide a comprehensive and unbiased description of the structure and use of languages. It is a cornerstone of linguistic study, contributing to our understanding of language diversity and the human capacity for communication.
Key Concepts in Descriptive Linguistics:
1. Language as a System: Descriptive linguists view language as a complex system made up of interrelated components, such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Each component contributes to the overall structure of the language.
2. Synchronic Analysis: Descriptive linguistics typically involves a synchronic analysis, which means it studies a language at a particular point in time, as opposed to diachronic analysis, which examines how a language changes over time.
3. Phonetics and Phonology: Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds, while phonology is the study of how these sounds function within a particular language to create meaning.
4. Morphology: This is the study of the structure and formation of words, including how smaller units of meaning, known as morphemes, combine to form words.
5. Syntax: Syntax involves the rules that govern the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
6. Semantics: Semantics is the study of meaning in language, looking at how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning.
7.
Pragmatics: Pragmatics goes beyond semantics to consider the context in which language is used and how this affects the interpretation of meaning.
8.
Language Variation: Descriptive linguists recognize and document the various forms of language variation, such as dialects, sociolects, and registers, acknowledging that no single form of a language is inherently superior or more 'correct' than another.
9.
Language Documentation: A significant part of descriptive linguistics involves the documentation of languages, especially those that are less well-known or endangered, to preserve linguistic diversity.
10.
Neutrality and Objectivity: Descriptive linguists strive for neutrality and objectivity in their descriptions, avoiding value judgments about language use.
1
1. Language Universals: While focusing on the particularities of individual languages, descriptive linguistics also contributes to the identification of language universals—features that are common to all human languages.
1
2. Language Change: Although descriptive linguistics is primarily concerned with the current state of a language, the detailed descriptions it produces can also be used to understand how languages change over time.
Methodology:
The methodology of descriptive linguistics involves several key steps:
- Data Collection: This can include fieldwork, where linguists immerse themselves in the communities where the language is spoken to gather spoken and written language data.
- Transcription: Recordings of speech are transcribed using the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to represent the phonetic details accurately.
- Analysis: The collected data is analyzed to identify the patterns and rules that govern the language's structure.
- Description: Based on the analysis, linguists write detailed descriptions of the language's phonology, grammar, and lexicon.
- Verification: The descriptions are checked against additional data to ensure their accuracy and completeness.
Significance:
Descriptive linguistics plays a crucial role in the broader field of linguistics. It provides the foundational data and descriptions necessary for other areas of linguistic study, such as historical linguistics, which examines language change over time, and comparative linguistics, which compares the structures of different languages. Moreover, it is essential for language teaching, translation, and the development of language technologies.
Descriptive linguistics also has practical applications, such as informing language policy and planning, particularly in multilingual societies. It can help in the creation of language standards, the development of writing systems for previously unwritten languages, and the design of language education curricula.
In summary, descriptive linguistics is a fundamental discipline within linguistics that aims to provide a comprehensive and unbiased description of the structure and use of languages. It is a cornerstone of linguistic study, contributing to our understanding of language diversity and the human capacity for communication.
2024-05-13 06:40:04
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Studied at Stanford University, Lives in Stanford, CA
Descriptive linguistics is a discipline in which the principles of linguistics, or the scientific study of language, are presented through description of one language. Through this process, scholars seek to identify the general linguistic principles that also characterize other languages.
2023-06-16 23:12:57
William Brown
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Descriptive linguistics is a discipline in which the principles of linguistics, or the scientific study of language, are presented through description of one language. Through this process, scholars seek to identify the general linguistic principles that also characterize other languages.
