In modern historical linguistics, we examine how languages change over time, focusing on the relationships between dialects within a specific period.
Linguistics, the scientific study of language. The word was first used in the middle of the 19th century to emphasize the difference between a newer approach to the study of language that was then developing and the more traditional approach of philology.
At its core, linguistics is the scientific study of language. It is not about learning to speak different languages (though that can be a part of it); instead, linguists are interested in the structure, function, and history of all languages.
The main goal of linguistics, like all other intellectual disciplines, is to increase our knowledge and understanding of the world. Since language is universal and fundamental to all human interactions, the knowledge attained in linguistics has many practical applications.
Linguistics publishes articles addressing research questions of current or general relevance that make a significant contribution to our understanding of human language as a system of communication or a cognitive, social and historical phenomenon.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, and its focus is the systematic investigation of the properties of particular languages as well as the characteristics of language in general.
The Stanford University Department of Linguistics is a vibrant center of research and teaching, with a thriving undergraduate major and a top-ranked PhD program.
Linguistics is the study of human language in all its aspects, and as such is a perhaps uniquely broad and interdisciplinary area of study.
Linguistics, the study of language, gives us a window into the way we communicate.