What does linguistics mean?
Linguistics is the scholarly study of language and how it works. It examines sounds, words, sentence structures, meaning, and communication, as well as the relationship between language and society. Researchers in the field may specialize in areas such as phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, morphology, historical linguistics, or sociolinguistics. The discipline is not limited to spoken languages; it can also investigate sign languages, writing systems, and the development of language over time. In everyday use, the word refers to the field as a whole, not to an individual specialist, who is called a linguist. Although linguistics can involve detailed technical analysis, its central concern is the structure and use of human language. It is therefore closely related to anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and computer science, while remaining distinct from literary study and translation.
nounThe study of language and its structure, including speech sounds, grammar, meaning, and language use. It also encompasses the theories and methods used to investigate languages.
- The academic study of language, including its sounds, grammar, meaning, and use.
"She studies linguistics, focusing on how grammar changes over time."
"Linguistics examines how languages differ in sound systems and sentence structure."
"The conference brought together scholars from several fields of linguistics."
Linguistics turns the everyday act of speaking into a subject that can be analyzed with the precision of science.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of linguistics
The word is an English formation based on Latin lingua, meaning “language” or “tongue,” combined with the suffix -istics, associated with scientific study. The related adjective linguistic and the noun linguist developed from the same linguistic foundation. The field's terminology also reflects the Greek roots of phonetics, semantics, and grammar, which are cognates in the broader history of language study.
Related word forms
How linguistics is actually used
The term is normally used for the discipline as a whole, while linguistic is the corresponding adjective. It is common in academic and educational contexts.
Easily confused with linguistics
Linguistics is the academic field that studies language, whereas a linguist is a person who specializes in that field.
Linguistics is a noun naming a field of study, while linguistic is an adjective describing something connected with language or linguistics.