Introduction

Abstract

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the subject matter of the textbook. It addresses two fundamental concepts: language and linguistics. Language is a system of communication which consists of a set of spoken sounds, written symbols and gestural signs. Linguistics is the scientific study of human language, both its form and meaning. The aim of the chapter is to offer a coherent picture of the two concepts. The chapter is broken down into four sections. Section 1.1 is the introduction. It provides the reader with a broad understanding of the field and an overview of its main concerns. Section 1.2 is about language. It probes the question of what language is, pinpoints the purposes behind studying it, presents the modes which it takes and mentions its properties. Section 1.3 is about linguistics. It examines the question of what linguistics is, explores the benefits gained from studying it, identifies the main branches into which linguistic research falls and mentions its scientific characteristics. Section 1.4 looks back on the chapter as a whole and sums up its content.