Language
A system of communication organized by rules that uses symbols such as words, sounds, and gestures to convey information
Historical linguistics
The study of the development of language over time, including its changes and variations
Speech community
A group of people who come to share certain norms of language use through living and communicating together
Descriptive linguistics
The study of the sounds, symbols, and gestures of a language and their combination into forms that communicate meaning
Phonemes
The smallest units of sound that can make a difference in meaning
Phonology
The study of what sounds exist and how they are used in a particular language
Morphemes
The smallest units of sound that carry meaning on their own
Syntax
The specific patterns and rules for combining morphemes to construct phrases and sentences
Grammar
The combined set of observations about the rules governing the use of phonemes, morphemes, and syntax that guide language use
Kinesics
The study of the relationship between body movements and communication
Paralanguage
An extensive set of noises (such as laughs, cries, sighs, and yells) and tones of voice that convey significant information about the speaker
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
The idea that different languages create different ways of thinking
Lexicon
All the words for names, ideas, and events that make up a language’s dictionary
Sociolinguistics
The study of the ways culture shapes language and language shapes culture, particularly the intersection of language with cultural categories and system of power such as age, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and class
Prestige language
A particular language variation or way of speaking that is associated with wealth, success, education, and power
Code switching
Switching back and forth between one linguistic variant and another, or one language and another, depending on the cultural context
Language ideology
Beliefs and conceptions about language that often serve to rationalize and justify patterns or stratification and inequality
Language loss
The extinction of languages that have very few speakers
Morphology
The study of patterns and rules of how sounds combined make morphemes
