linguistics
|lin-guist-ics|
/lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪks/
study of language
Etymology
'linguistics' originates from French, specifically the word 'linguistique', where 'lingu-' ultimately comes from Latin 'lingua' meaning 'tongue' or 'language', and the suffix '-istics' denotes a branch of knowledge or study.
'linguistics' changed from French 'linguistique' (and Medieval/Neo-Latin formations based on Latin 'lingua') and eventually became the modern English word 'linguistics'.
Initially, it meant 'relating to the tongue or language', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the scientific study of language'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the scientific study of language, including its structure (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax), meaning (semantics), and social and psychological aspects (sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics).
She is studying linguistics at university to learn how languages are structured and change.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/29 16:14