- Crystal, the author of How to Investigate Language Structure, discusses the levels of linguistic organization constitutes a range of levels with its “own terminology and techniques, enabling us to obtain information about one aspect of language structure while temporarily disregarding the involvement of others.” Each level is unique to the language, and the idea of having languages is used readily, because they allow us to organize clearly and focus in on specific parts of the language. Crystal also mentions that these levels may be in different areas of the brain, leading to the ability to control them. Interrelationships exist, because in order to study the structure, we must use other levels. For example, if we are studying vocabulary, we still need to use phonetics or the physical forms in the language in order to describe these abstract meanings.
Crystal uses three main levels: semantics or how meaning is expressed and understood, grammar made of the way both sentences and words are constructed, and medium of linguistic transmission or how individuals convey meaning using speech, writing, and sign. Crystal also mentions that in order to study a language’s structure, one can use different approaches. Some prefer to begin with semantics, while others like to begin with phonetics. Crystal chooses to begin the study of language with meaning, followed by grammar, which gives structure to the meaning.
In Jean Aitchison’s diagram of linguistics, the center contains phonetics, or the raw sounds used to form patterns or phonology of words. I think about how when you hear a nonnative language, you can notice sounds that sound unfamiliar to you. For example, in Spanish, the ‘rr’ means to roll the tongue, however, in English we do not roll our r’s, so when learning Spanish, I found it challenging to say ‘perro’ or aburrido.’ Sometimes, I still cannot. In Portuguese, my target language, there are new sounds as well. Certain combinations of words, which would be phonology, make certain noises. For example, in ‘São Paulo,’ the ‘São’ sounds like ‘sow’ but with a nasally cut off at the end. Other combinations make other sounds.
Within the grammar aspect of language, I notice a difference between English and Portuguese with how certain words are ordered in a sentence. In English, if I wanted to describe a girl as tall, I would say, “The tall girl . . . “ However, in Portuguese the adjective follows the noun. I would say, “A menina alta . . .” which translates directly to English as “The girl tall . . .” This applies to other aspects of the languages as well.
In other aspects of the Portuguese culture, like both Crystal and Aitchison mentioned, signs may be used to communicate as well. I recall talking about the OK sign in a previous post, and the OK sign to people in the United States means simply OK. However, in Brazil, the sign carries the same connotation as the middle finger does to us. This could be an example anthropological linguistics using sign, because the differences in meaning are across different cultures with the same sign.
Replies