linguistics

[ ling-gwis-tiks ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the science of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and historical linguistics.

linguistics

/ lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks /

noun

1. functioning as singular the scientific study of language See also historical linguistics descriptive linguistics

Word History and Origins

Origin of linguistics¹

First recorded in 1850–55; linguistic, -ics

Example Sentences

But Clark said students should be aware of the great variance among majors — the transfer admission rate for computer science is 5%, for instance, compared with 60%-plus for history, linguistics and philosophy.

From Los Angeles Times

One 2009 linguistics study timed these differences - showing that, on average, Japanese speakers took seven milliseconds to respond while Danish speakers took about 470 milliseconds to intervene.

From BBC

Dr Ellie Rye, who is a lecturer in English language and linguistics at the University of York, said apostrophes were a relatively new invention in our writing.

From BBC

Its sole director was a former linguistics teacher.

From BBC

“There’s a very big limit to what you can do with anything approaching gibberish,” said Jessie Peterson, who holds a doctorate in linguistics.

From New York Times

Related Words

• alphabet
• syntax