Linguistics

Linguistics

1. Levels of analysis

   • Phonology
     • What sounds does a language has and how they combine to form words
   • Syntax
     • How words can be combined into sentences
   • Semantics
     • Study of the meaning of words and sentences
   • Pragmatics
     • Metalanguage
       • Describes the semantic units and rules of language
     • Lexicon
       • Mental store of the words
     • Literal meaning
       • Where the speaker describes something in untrue or impossible terms to achieve special effects

2. Linguistic vs. Encyclopaedic

   • The meaning of the world vs. the way the word is

3. Challenges

   • Definition theory
     • This theory states that to give the meaning of linguistic expressions we should establish definitions of the meaning of the words
   • Circularity
     • We state the meaning of a word, either in the same or a different languange
   • Utterances
     • Is created by speaking or writing a piece of language
       • Sentences
         • Abstract grammatical elements obtained from utterances
           • Propositions

4. entail

   • If sentence A entails B, then if we know A we automartically know B

5. Signification

   • Semiotics
     • Symbol
       • There is a link between the sign and its signified
     • Index
       • Is where the sigh is closely associated with the sign and its signified
     • Icon
       • Is where there is a similarity between a symbol and what it represents