Guide to Linguistics: The Science of Language
From The Observatory
Editor: Danica Tomber
Source: The Observatory
We use language every day–from spoken and signed words to written communication and body gestures–but how often do we pause to consider what drives it beneath the surface? Linguistics, the scientific study of language, seeks to answer this question by examining how language is acquired, how it functions, how it changes over time, and how it connects to both human evolution and society. Its insights reach far beyond the classroom, shaping our understanding of education, politics, technology, identity, and culture.
This Guide to Linguistics: The Science of Language is a compelling exploration of how language influences and is influenced by our experiences, values, and identities. Through a diverse collection of essays, it challenges us to rethink the language we use, as well as our perceptions of other people based on their language usage. It explores the deeply rooted power dynamics in language. At its core, it offers an illuminating journey through the many dimensions of how and why we communicate.
As you move through this guide, think about the contexts in which language is used. Ask yourself: Who is speaking? Where, when, and why? These questions will usher you toward a more nuanced understanding of what language is, how we use it, and how it continues to evolve. Whether you are a student, a lifelong learner, or simply curious about the hidden forces behind everyday communication, this guide offers an illuminating journey into the many dimensions of how and why we communicate.1
By Danica Tomber | From The Observatory
Have you ever corrected someone else’s language use before? Perhaps you fixed some typos during an essay peer review, disagreed with someone’s choice of “irregardless” (for “regardless”), or reworded language that wasn’t politically correct. Ask a linguist, and they will likely point you toward a conceptual framework that contrasts descriptivism and prescriptivism. Irregardless of our opinions, it is arguably more important to take comprehension and context into consideration when deciding whether correcting someone’s language use is necessary or helpful. As an ever-changing phenomenon that responds to its social environments, language and its so-called “rules” may not be as set in stone as you think they are.
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By Maryellen MacDonald | From The Observatory
While talking may seem fairly straightforward, our brains do a lot of work behind the scenes when it comes to producing and comprehending speech. Maryellen MacDonald breaks down why talking is hard and why talking while lying is even harder, ultimately diving into the substantial challenges of lie detection. The mundane lies of our day-to-day lives may seem fairly inconsequential, but in institutional domains such as government and the media, lying has serious and widespread consequences. If humans have such a hard time detecting lies, can technology do any better? And if so, what ethical considerations do we need to foreground in the age of artificial intelligence?
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By Janet McIntosh | From The Observatory
We are all likely familiar with the commonplace practices of yelling and insulting in military culture, particularly boot camp, but the ramifications of military talk go much deeper than being merely abrasive. Beneath the surface, this language reinforces the larger system of necropolitics, a governmental mechanism that strips humans of their sovereignty by dictating who lives and who dies. Janet McIntosh uncovers the repercussions of military talk, explaining how this linguistic conditioning resocializes future soldiers by removing their individuality and neutralizing them to the brutalities of war.
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By Erika Schelby | From Earth Food Life Project
From melodious songs to mimicry of human speech, birds have complex vocal abilities with a wide range of communicative functions; as such, the connection between birdsong and human speech cannot be ignored. Erika Schelby explores both philosophical and scientific arguments to trace these links. For instance, just as human languages have different dialects (for example, American English and Indian English), songbirds also communicate in different dialects. Bird melodies have also been shown to inspire musical creativity and improve our mental health. To understand how we perceive and define human language, we must ask ourselves how nonhuman forms of communication intersect with it.
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By Alicia Graef, Carrie P. Freeman and Debra Merskin | From In Defense of Animals and Earth Food Life Project
Pronouns, the words we use to refer to a noun or a larger unit called a noun phrase, are small, but they carry a lot of weight. As with other language choices, the use of pronouns can have a powerful impact on those around us. Take the pronoun “it.” We might use this word to refer to an inanimate object, but never to a fellow human being. Along a similar rationale, Alicia Graef, Carrie P. Freeman, and Debra Merskin challenge us to rethink the language we use for nonhuman animals as well. Referring to a nonhuman animal using words like “it” or “something,” instead of “he/she/they” or “someone,” dismisses their place in our shared world as sentient beings with valuable lived experience, deserving of our respect. Activists and lawyers are among those working to ensure that nonhuman animals are treated justly.
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By Marjorie Hecht | From Human Bridges Project
The capacity for abstract thinking begets cognitive abilities such as language and numerosity. While these two faculties share some similarities (they both use symbolism and are deeply tied to cultural representation), evidence suggests that they are independent of each other. Marjorie Hecht explores our innate capacity for abstract numerical thought beyond language through an interview with Frederick L. Coolidge, an expert in psychology and cognitive archaeology.
