Page 17 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Unit 1: Introduction to Linguistics: Its Aspects

• The approach and methodology of linguistics is scientific. It is as inductive as a science could Notes
be, and is based on observations, formation of hypothesis, testing, verification, tentativeness
and predictiveness. Like a scientist a linguist observes his data. Some of his methods of
observation include simple listening, phonetic transcription, and the use of various
instruments, such as oscillograph, soundspectograph, kymograph, chromograph, mingograph,
laryngoscope, endoscope, sonograph, autophonoscope, breathing flask, strobolaryngoscope,
electric vocal tract, pitchmeter, intensitymeter, speech stretcher, formant graphing machine,
etc. Records and cassettes made in these ways help in various kinds of objective description.
• The linguist also hopes to be in position to make prediction about unobserved linguistic data
on the basis of those observed, and build a general theory which would explain and relate all
the facts to be found in individual languages. Predictions about grammars and dictionaries
can be made by him. And finally like a true scientist, he is constantly engaged in discovering
more about languages, in refining his methods of investigation, and in constructing better
theories. He also tries to find out linguistic universals.
• Like any scientific discipline, linguistics too is not static. Viewpoints and theoretical methods
in the field, change even in fundamental ways from time to time, and different aspects come
to receive primary focus at different times. Linguistics has more than its share of unresolved
controversies and unsolved questions, which is a part of its fascination and challenge.
• Finally, the closeness of Linguistics with other natural sciences like mathematics, physics,
physiology, biology, zoology, etc., is another proof of its scientific nature. ‘It touches on physics
through acoustics, on physiology through the structure of the human vocal organs, on zoology
through the comparative study of the communicative systems of living beings.’ A glance on
any book on transformational-generative grammar would convince any objective onlooker
how linguistics is becoming more and more scientific. Furthermore, as mentioned by R. H.
Robins, linguistics in its operations and statements is guided by three canons of science:
• (1) exhaustiveness, the adequate treatment of all the relevent material; (2) consistency, the
absence of contradiction between different parts of the total statement, and within the limits
imposed by the two preceding principles; and (3) economy, whereby, other things being
equal, a shorter statement or analysis employing fewer terms is to be preferred to one that is
longer or more involved. Consequently, linguistics is getting more and more technical and
sophisticated every day. Yet it is not a pure science. Its position, says R. A. Hall, is between
the natural and social sciences, like that of geology. To Robins it is an ‘empirical science’, and
within the empirical sciences it is ‘one of the social sciences’, because its subject matter
concerns human beings, and is very much different from that of natural sciences.
• Nevertheless, linguistics is the scientific study of language. It may be inductive or deductive;
it is, however, objective, precise, tentative and systematic; it is concerned with reportable
facts, methods, and principles; it works by means of observations, hypotheses, experiments
and tests, postulates, and inferences; it makes generalization and predictions; it formulates
theories; its products are descriptive, verbal or algebraic statements about language.

1.6 Key-Words

1. Synchrony : It is the study of a language in a given time.
2. Diachrony : It studies the development of languages through time.

1.7 Review Questions

1. Explain the dichotomy between
(i) Synchrony and Diachrony. (ii) Langue and Parole.
(iii) Competence and Performance. (iv) Substance and Form.
(iv) Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Relationships.

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