1.3. The scope of linguistics
Linguistics as a science is represented by a number of its branches (Fig. 1.1). The central ones are phonetics/phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Phonetics studies characteristics of actual physical sounds of speech, the raw material out of which language is made. Phonetics overlaps with physics (acoustics), and human physiology. Phonology, being a branch of linguistics proper, analyses patterns of speech sounds. In phonology, sounds are considered as sound types or abstract generalizations inherent in the system of language.
Syntax, in its broad sense, studies the arrangement of linguistic sound forms into words, phrases, and sentences. Syntax links together the sound patterns and the meaning.
Semantics is the study of meanings manifested by various linguistic forms.
Together, phonetics, syntax, and semantics constitute the grammar of language broadly understood as the system of language.
Pragmatics deals with how speakers use language in speech in ways which cannot be predicted from their knowledge about to the system of language alone.
The studies of language as a system (phonetics, syntax, and semantics), and the studies of speech (pragmatics) form the ‘inner circle’ of linguistics. Its ‘outer’ circle emerges at the intersection of linguistics and other disciplines.
Philosophical linguistics / philosophy of language, which borders on philosophy and logic, attempts to discern the logical structure of reality through discerning the formal linguistic structures (perceived and mental) in which we represent or think reality. The particular concern is with the truth or falsity of sentences that describe the world. Philosophical linguistics also defines the philosophical status of linguistic theories, methods, and observations, i.e. their contribution to explaining the basic laws of nature, society, and thought.
Cognitive linguistics and psycholinguistics overlap with psychology, and focus on the problem ‘language and the mind’.
Neurolinguistics, which is close to neuroscience, studies the problem ‘language and the brain’.
Computational linguistics, a discipline between computer science and linguistics, focuses on the computational aspects of human language. These are aspects that can be put into the form of a sequence of instructions that a computer can understand.
Applied linguistics applies linguistic findings to solving practical problems (compiling dictionaries, language teaching, translation, etc.). Therefore, it interacts with a number of disciplines, primarily methods of language teaching and translation studies.
Stylistics overlaps with literature studies, since it is concerned with language in its relation to literature.
Anthropological linguistics and ethnolinguistics, which border on anthropology and culture studies, consider general evolution of the human mind reflected in the respective evolution of language, as well as the use of language in particular cultural and cross-cultural settings.
Sociolinguistics, overlapping with sociology, is the study of language as a societal factor.
Fig. 1.1. The scope of linguistics
The issues relevant for different branches of linguistics may be considered as existing at a particular point in time (synchronically) or through time (diachronically). The respective approaches are called synchronic linguistics and diachronic / historical linguistics. The latter, due to the focus on language change, overlaps with linguistic typology which establishes language types with regard to different criteria – kinship of languages, their geographic proximity, and their structural characteristics.
(+ Aitchison, p. 7-10)