According to the diagram, phonetics is surrounded by phonology, then syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, and etc. While it shows the scope of linguistics, it also helps visualize the core elements of a language. In language structure, the four-level models, phonetics, phonology, grammar, semantics are most commonly used. This applies to Korean. The Korean alphabet consists of the sounds of hangul. Different combinations of consonants and vowels produce a different sound. These sounds become words, and rearranging them forms the syntax and with sound, word, and meaning patterns, the grammar provides the backbone of the language. In How to Investigate Language Structure, author argues that the aim of grammar is to give structure to meaning and so decides to start the next chapter with semantics. But, if the sounds and words are the what, grammar is the how, and meaning is the why, it may be a better idea to explain the how before the why. I think the aim of grammar could be to give structure to the sounds and words, and the aim of semantics could be to explore meaning from or through them. However, this is just a thought.
Reading about the different disciplinary perspectives gives me a clearer map of language. The structure dependence, patterning, duality, and creativity of language gives me a better idea of approaching Korean. The vocabulary and grammar may be different from English, but just like I can create new sentences that consist of various words glued by grammar, I can do the same in Korean. Communicating through language is such a crucial part of our everyday lives, and it's crazy that someone could use up to 100,000 words per day. Language is a powerful tool.
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