Important Distinctions

Important Distinctions
in Linguistics
• Traditional Grammar vs. Modern Linguistics
• Descriptive vs. Prescriptive
• Synchronic vs. Diachronic
• Langue vs. Parole
• Competence vs. Performance
• Microlinguistics vs Macrolinguistics
• Signifier vs. Signified
• Paradigmatic vs Syntagmatic Relations
• Speech vs. Writing
• In the 18th century, all the main
European languages were studied
prescriptively.
– The grammarians tried to lay down rules
for the correct use of language and settle
the disputes over usage once and for all.
– Some usages were prescribed to be
learned by heart, followed accurately or
avoided altogether. It was a matter of black
or white, right or wrong.
Traditional Grammar VS. Modern
Linguistics
1. Traditional grammar was very strongly
normative (prescriptive) in character,
e.g.
– You should never use a double-negative;
– You should not split the infinitive; etc.
Modern linguistics is descriptive:
linguistics describes languages and does not
lay down rules of correctness. Linguists are
interested in what is said, not what they think
ought to be said. So they are often said to be
descriptive, not prescriptive.
Linguistics
2. Use written material as the material for

analysis; modern linguistics analyses
both the written and spoken. Linguists
regard the spoken language as primary,
not the written. It is believed that speech
came into being first for any human
language and the writing system came
along much later.
Linguistics
3. Traditional Grammarians applied
Latin-based model to other languages;
modern linguistics does not force any
model. Thus, traditional grammar is based
on Latin and it tries to impose the Latin
categories and structures on other
languages, while linguistics describes
each language on its own merits.
Linguistics cntd
• T.G is interested more in syntax; modern
linguistics has a broader scope for
research.
• T.G puts emphasis on grammar than on any
other aspect of the language; modern
linguistics analyses all the aspects of
language.
• T.G deals with language mostly from the
diachronic point of view; modern linguistics
assumes that synchronic study has a
priority over diachronic study.
Descriptive vs. Prescriptive
The distinction lies in prescribing how
things ought to be and describing how
things are.
• Don't say X.
• People don't say X.
The first is a prescriptive command,
while the second is a descriptive
statement.
Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Cntd
Descriptive grammar – a grammar that
seeks to describe human linguistic ability
and knowledge.
Prescriptive grammar – a grammar that aims

to state the linguistic facts in terms of how
they should be.
Humorous grammar rules
 Never end a sentence with a preposition.
 And don't start a sentence with a
conjunction.
 It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
 Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
 No sentence fragments.
Synchronic vs. Diachronic
• A synchronic description takes a fixed
instant (usually, but not necessarily,
the present) as its point of observation.
Most grammars are of this kind.
• Diachronic linguistics is the study of a
language through the course of its
history.
Langue Vs. Parole
• Langue: the abstract linguistic

system shared by all members of a
speech community.
• Parole: the realization of langue in
actual use.
Competence vs. Performance
• This fundamental distinction is
discussed by Chomsky (1965).
– A language user's underlying
knowledge about the system of rules
is called his linguistic competence.
– Performance refers to the actual use
of language in concrete situations.
Microlinguistics vs Macrolinguistics
• This distinction has to do with a narrower and a
broader view of the scope of Linguistics.
• In microlinguistics one adopts the narrower view
and in macrolinguistics the broader view.
• At its narrowest, microlinguistics is study of
internal structure system of language: sounds,
structure, and meaning.
• Macrolinguistics is the external study of
language, e.g. psycholinguistics,
sociolinguistics, mathematical linguistics,
computational linguistics, neurolinguistics,
applied linguistics, etc.
Signifier / Signified
• Signifier: The sound/utterance which is

related to a ‘concept’
• Signified: The ‘concept’ which is related to
the sound/utterance
• The signifier and the signified are not
separable; together, they form a sign.
• The relation between the signifier and the
signified is not natural, but arbitrary. Thus,
languages are different from one another
Paradigmatic vs Syntagmatic Relations
• Paradigmatic (Associative) Relation: A

sign is associated with other signs of a
language vertically by similarity and
difference. The associated signs are in a
set of choices.
• Syntagmatic Relations: A sign occurs
horizontally with other signs in a chain (e.g.
in a phrase or in a sentence). Language is
organised by selecting from a set of
choices of signs to a chain of signs.
Speech vs. Writing
Spoken language is more fundamental than written
language. This is because:
•Speech appears to be universal to all human beings,
while there have been many cultures and speech
communities that lack written communication;
•Speech evolved before human beings invented
writing;
•People learn to speak and process spoken languages
more easily and much earlier than writing;
•People speak much more than they write;
•Speaking is natural; writing must be learned

Important Distinctions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Important Distinctions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Important Distinctions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Important Distinctions

2. Use written material as the material for

Prescriptive grammar – a grammar that aims

• Langue: the abstract linguistic

• Signifier: The sound/utterance which is

• Paradigmatic (Associative) Relation: A

You might also like