Language Study - The scope of linguistics

Question 1

Fundamental approaches to the study of language

Answer 1

1. Diachronic
2. Synchronic

Question 2

The diachronic approach

Answer 2

Studies the changes taking place in particular language in the course of a long period of time
It’s connected with the historical development of lanugage

Question 3

The synchronic approach

Answer 3

Describes language as the final static product of its preceding historical development
Its an account of language at present or very specific time in the past

Question 4

Further categorisation of language study

Answer 4

Descriptive
Historical
Comparative

Question 5

Descriptive

Answer 5

Focusses on a systematic description and analysis of a particular language in a given period

Question 6

Historical

Answer 6

Is concerned with language development over certain time
It deals with the changes occuring in a language from the long-term perspective

Question 7

Comparative

Answer 7

Compares two or more languages with the aim to disclose their genetic relationship
Its is close to historical, because it focusses on differences in the development of the compared languages

Question 8

Linguistics is subdivided into subfields which relate to very concrete disciplines

Answer 8

Sociolinguistics
Psycholinguistics

Question 9

Sociolinguistics

Answer 9

• Considers language as social phenomenon
• It concentrates on the relationship between linguistic code and social context
• It is concerned with regional and social varieties of language

Question 10

Psycholinguistics

Answer 10

Analyses the correlation between language and mind
Concerned with how linguistic knowledge is organized for acces and what the accesing processes might be in both acquisition and use of language