6 Dimensions of Language!

6 DIMENSIONS OF LANGUAGE [Snippet & Notes]

#1 PHONETICS

• The study and the mechanics of speech sounds
• How the human physiology triggers the process of sound production, transmission and hearing
• Basic Unit of Phonetics: Phones (sound)

#2 PHONOLOGY

• The study of organization of speech sounds in various systems of languages
• Basic unit of Phonology: Phonemes

#3 MORPHOLOGY

• The study of word forms, and process of word formation
• Basic unit of Morphology: Morphemes

#4 SYNTACTICS

• Study of lingual syntax
• Study of word order, grammatical theory and arrangement of words & phrases
• Deals with technical aspects of sentence and paragraph construction

Ex: "I know you." and "I know you?" - a slight change in syntax can totally transform the sentence

#5 SEMANTICS

• Study of meaning of linguistic expressions when words are put together in correct syntactical structure
• Word meanings, vocabulary
• Semantics asks "What it means?"
• Ex: "Cool green ideas went for a walk." - This sentence is syntactically correct, but with respect to meaning, erroneous.
  
  Take another example!
  A: "Hello, are you relaxing?"
  B: "No, I am David."
  These sentences are correct, both syntactically and semantically. However, the context in which B is answering A's question, seems to be slightly unclear. This is pragmatics...

#6 PRAGMATICS

• Study of context
• Study of inferred or interpreted meanings
• What do we mean by this?
• How the language is used, for what purpose and what meaning does it intend to convey?

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