Linguistics Theory, Foundations, and Modern Development

An Overview of Linguistics and Linguistic Applications

Linguistic Assumptions and Principles

Language as Knowledge

Linguistic Assumptions and Principles

Grammars

Fundamentals

Language as Knowledge

When we say that we know a language, we imply that we are familiar with its sound system, have a reasonable command of its lexicon, and properly use its structure. This does not mean that we are necessarily conscious of our knowledge of the language's structures, but it means that we have a usable command of the language, allowing us to communicate with others who know the language. It is important to note that languages are not necessarily spoken (American Sign Language is a fully developed language in its own right).

Part of what makes a language is its infinite extensibility. New words can and are constantly added to the lexicon to describe new concepts. Words may be combined to form phrases, which may be combined to form sentences. So long as the words conform to the internal grammar of the language, any sentence or phrase can be created. The phrase need not necessarily make sense or be contextually appropriate, but it can be created. "Talking" birds (such as Mynah birds and parrots) and other communicating animals are not capable of spontaneous creation of ideas or phrases.

Even though languages are infinitely extensible, they are fundamentally understandable, as well. It might, in view of the "lofty" and lengthy form of English that lawyers and lawmakers use, be more appropriate to term a language as fundamentally "parse"-able. This means that any user of the language, even if there are words not in their personal lexicon, may decipher the meaning of phrases by isolating them into their most basic parts (words). Specifically, it should be noted that all sentences must be parsed by the reader or listener; it is impossible to memorize all possible sentences in a language, as all languages are infinitely extensible.

Sentences should also be considered infinitely extensible; object phrases may be added to existing sentences, making a longer sentence. One example of this is the children's game "Telegraph." The game begins with a short, simple phrase, and every person in the circle adds another word or phrase when they tell the phrase to the next person. Another good example is the children's rhyme, a telegraph-like sentence, "This is the house":

This is the farmer sowing the corn,
that kept that cock that crowed in the morn,
that waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
that married the man all tattered and torn,
that kissed the maiden all forlorn,
that milked the cow with the crumpled horn
that tossed the dog,
that worried the cat,
that killed the rat,
that ate the malt,
that lay in the house that Jack built.

Every user of a language can parse these sentences as valid because they either consciously or subconsciously follow the rules of the language, or the grammar. The next several sections will cover grammar both in general and in specific.

Linguistic Assumptions and Principles

Grammars

Fundamentals

Linguistics Index

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