What is Language (Linguistics)

1 Introduction to Language (Linguistics)

1. What is linguistics?
 The scientific study of language.

2. What is language?
 A cognitive system.
 A conventional system of communication.

3. Natural language: language that develops naturally in normal humans (vs. artificial language).

4. Linguistics is NOT:

 Learning to speak many languages;
 Telling people their grammar ain’t no good;
 Literature or style;
 Or anything else—it is the scientific study of language.

5. Linguistics is the scientific study of language.

Scientific study =
 Observation;
 Hypothesis formation;
 Hypothesis testing;
 Amending hypothesis.