Language theory

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The theory of language is a set of mostly interrelated statements about language and its meaning for humans. It deals with the description ( description ) and explanation of all aspects that make up a language or are connected with it, primarily with the language system , its use and development; to do this, it must take into account the influence of humans on language as well as the functions of language for humans. Lewandowski (1985: 1012f.) Defines language theory accordingly as "a theory development that goes beyond grammatical theory and not only additively, which has to integrate general anthropological, sociological, psychological, language-use and action-oriented, synchronous and diachronic as well as general epistemological components."

Views on the theory of language

This definition of language theory has so far only represented the desired goal: In linguistics there is broad agreement that a language theory in the desired sense does not yet exist (cf. the corresponding articles in Bußmann 2002; Glück 2005). Instead, there are a number of different blueprints of how different authors or schools envision such a theory. The main reasons for this heterogeneous picture are different views of what a language description should look like. There is a plethora of very different approaches to this, ranging from traditional to the latest grammar models. Opinions about what is meant by explanation differ at least as widely .

A prominent, if not entirely new, conception of language theory is that of Chomsky (1957: 49), in which he equates grammar with theory : "A grammar of the language L is essentially a theory of L." ("A grammar of language L is essentially a theory of L.")

A conception of language theory that is strongly based on the natural sciences can be found in quantitative linguistics , especially in linguistic synergetics : Here it is understood as a system of linguistic laws that are an indispensable prerequisite for explanations . An explanation in this understanding is the statement that something observed had to adjust itself to the way it was observed due to the laws of language and boundary conditions.

Language theory as a generic term

In linguistics, language theory is an umbrella term to which special sub-theories can be classified. So it is common to speak of a " syntax theory ", "language usage theory " or "phoneme theory" and the like, which as a rule again conceal different concepts.

Essential components of language theory

Essential aspects that a language theory must try to integrate are:

  • Language description (description of the language system and its use; similarities and differences between languages)
  • Language change (language origin, development, language families, factors of language change)
  • Language acquisition (especially the acquisition of the mother tongue , but also the acquisition of second or foreign languages, often later )
  • Language functions (services of language for people)

literature

  • Hadumod Bußmann : Lexicon of Linguistics. 3rd, updated and expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2002. ISBN 3-520-45203-0 .
  • Noam Chomsky: Syntactic structures. Mouton, London / The Hague 1957 (quoted from 4th print 1965).
  • Helmut Glück (Ed.), With the collaboration of Friederike Schmöe : Metzler Lexikon Sprache. 3rd, revised edition. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2005, ISBN 3-476-02056-8 .
  • Theodor Lewandowski: Linguistic Dictionary . 4th, revised edition. Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1985. ISBN 3-494-02050-7 . Article: Theory of Language .
  • Johannes Heinrichs , Theoretical semiotics of reflection. Part 2: Language Theory. Philosophical grammar of semiotic dimensions, Bouvier, Bonn 1981.
  • Johannes Heinrichs, language. Volume 1: The Character Dimension. Philosophical Semiotics Part II, Steno, Munich 2008.
  • Ludger Hoffmann (Ed.) Linguistics. A reader. 3. Edition. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2010
  • Peter Schmitter (Ed.): History of language theory , Günter Narr Verlag, Tübingen 1987-2007

Web links

Wiktionary: Language theory  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Reinhard Köhler: Subject and mode of operation of quantitative linguistics . In: Reinhard Köhler, Gabriel Altmann, Rajmund G. Piotrowski (eds.): Quantitative Linguistics - Quantitative Linguistics. An international manual. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, pp. 1–16; esp. 12-13. ISBN 3-11-015578-8 .
  2. ↑ Both in: Noam Chomsky: Aspects of the Syntax Theory . Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 1969 (1965).
  3. ↑ Herbert Pilch: Phoneme Theory. Second improved edition. Karger, Basel / New York 1968.