linguistics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the scientific study of human language, including its sounds, structures, meanings, use, acquisition, history, and variation

   Linguistics examines how speakers organize sounds, words, sentences, meanings, and language use.

Formed in the nineteenth century from linguistic or linguist + -ics, the field-forming suffix seen in names of sciences. Linguist ultimately derives from Latin lingua ("tongue; language"). The modern term emphasizes systematic, scientific analysis of language rather than the older, chiefly textual study called philology.

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