Interdisciplinarity in Linguistics - Coursework Example

Interdisciplinarity in Linguistics Introduction In basic terms, linguistics becomes the study and scientific analysis of natural languages. However, this basic definition is quite lacking since linguistics incorporates a number of different things all of which may be connected to different disciples. Of course, the idea of studying the syntax of a language, the grammar, morphology as well the structure remain under the umbrella of linguistics but there are other aspects to the topic such as the applications of language as well as the modern developments coming to the study of language that require some level of Interdisciplinary awareness (Ardener, 2004). It can be shown that interdisciplinary awareness can be quite important for those who wish to study and work in the field of linguistics. Linguistics and Other Fields Historically speaking, linguistics has been dominated by the idea of studying the structure and function of language itself but in recent times, advancements made in other fields have brought linguistics closer to other realms of science. For example, the research conducted by Chomsky and others who followed his ideas has brought linguistics into the field of biology and human development. The process by which children acquire language and even the biological patterns that the brain develops with regard to language information may be studied under either linguistics or biology (Ardener, 2004). Evolutionary studies as well as anthropological studies also focus on the development of language as it has evolved through time. Words, phonemes and phones that were used centuries ago may not be in use within the same language as words from other languages are mixed or the use of certain terms is deprecated with time. The very origins of language itself is also a field which comes under both evolutionary studies as well as linguistics and that is a field which deserves further exploration as it can yield a lot of information about how language evolved along with human biology (Shuy, 1984). Linguistics is also related to sociology in significant terms, simply because what we say and how we know certain sociological structures effects our relationship with them. The terminology used by a society for social artifacts can make something taboo while others may be given euphemisms and a different name in order to not break taboos (Ardener, 2004). Both sociologists and linguists will be very interested in how these names are formed and why these names are used by the people who speak that language. In fact, when it comes to taboos, even psychologists will show interest with regard to finding out how and why the taboo was created in the collective conscious (Shuy, 1984). In fact, the creation, continuation and negative values associated with irrational stereotypes also has to do with linguistics since psychology can help us in understanding why a person develops a positive or negative attitude about certain words. For instance, the creation of individual schemas and positive and negative attitudes about certain groups of people may have a linguistic component which associates the group with negative imagery. Undoubtedly, there is also a component of learned behavior and personal experiences but understanding the language used and changing the language can also impact the relationships between groups of individuals (Lemos, 2007). This links to the idea of Cognitive psychology which is a subfield of psychology that discusses how human beings understand different ideas and think about things in general. In the real world, thoughts and the process of thinking through a given problem seem to be such a natural process that even animals are said to be gifted with intelligence. That is to say that they can solve problems such as mazes in order to get to a food source or avoid danger. However, the exact method by which we can think and the reasons for why thoughts or ideas based in language are formed in our minds still remains somewhat of a mystery. Scientists and linguists have considered things such as language rules, frames, concepts and other methods to explain the basic human thought process but no single answer can fully explain how and why we think and how our thoughts are translated into words for others (Lemos, 2007). In this regard, the research done by David (2006) becomes very interesting since it shows that some individuals can think in a different language while speaking in a completely different one. The brain activity image patterns show some variations for people who are speaking in their native tongue as compared to people speaking in a language which they studied at a later part in life. This has applications in medicinal practice as well since doctors and other critical service providers may need to talk to bilingual patients in their mother tongue if possible to get the right message from them. Additionally, while treating patients who have amnesia or a disease that has caused them speech impediments, it might be possible to use one or the other language if they are multilingual. In fact, the research done by David (2006) could also be used in criminal investigation since those who are suspected of being foreign terrorists may reveal their country of origin if their language patterns are studied carefully. Even if not that, it can reveal their native language or the dialect of the native tongue with a great degree of accuracy. The study of real time images of activity in the brain is quite an important leap forward since something as simple as speaking and processing verbal communications has been shown to activate a lot of the parts of the brain. However this high level of brain activity and background processes which are required for communicating and understanding words can be easily carried out by children. While linguists understand that we have the ability to talk, read and write, unless the biological questions are answered, we will not know how the brain processes and creates speech. In real world terms, understanding how the brain reacts to both written text and how it processes the various sounds made by a person speaking the same words may lead to a greater understanding of how people with dyslexia can be helped through medicinal and therapeutic means (David, 2006). It seems that humans developed and improved their language with time as their need to express more ideas and thoughts evolved due to technological, social or cultural influences. However, the idea of language also exists for the technological marvel of our age, i.e. the computer since computers also speak a language to each other and use different programming languages to communicate with humans in a general sense of the word. Therefore, linguistics becomes important for computer scientists because the rules of syntax and grammar that are used for working with natural languages are also needed for artificial languages used with computers. Considering these examples and the case study of how brain imagery is being used to study linguistic abilities, it is easy to see that linguistics seems to penetrate quite a few fields of study. Psychologists will study linguistics to see how language is learned by humans and used in psychological terms. Anthropologists or sociologists will determine the role of language in terms of its impact on culture and the formation of society. At the same time, philosophers use linguistics to compare the nature of perception, sense and points of reference. Even physiologists and those who study the mechanics of the human body study linguistics and the sounds of different words to understand how language is produced and how it is in turn experienced by the listener. The relative workings of the brain, the mouth, tongue, vocal chords and the ear all come under the same topic of study for physiologists. The possibilities of linguistics being a part of other disciplines and other disciplines using the study of linguistics become quite vast. A variety of fields use the information as well as the knowledge gained in other disciplines and this in turn makes the study of that field more desirable and acceptable (Bal, 2002). Of course, it can be objected that the intrusion of other fields is undesirable since it leads to polluting linguistics with other disciplines but it must be understood that the application of linguistics only comes into being when other sciences need its assistance. Thus it becomes quite desirable to use the services of linguists in other sciences and arts. Finally, when it comes to linguistics itself, interdisciplinary studies also become important since they give the background and the scientific knowledge which can be applied to the study of linguistics and allows scientists to form new connections. Knowing different materials from a variety of subjects only helps those who wish to learn more about linguistics simply because it gives them a foundation that can be used to build up other avenues of research. Works Cited Ardener, E. 2004, Social Anthropology and Language, Routledge. Bal, M. 2002, Travelling Concepts in the Humanities, University of Toronto Press. David, R. 2006, ‘Language we speak in may not be language we think in’, [Online] Available at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/NEWS07/806040409/1009 Lemos, N. 2007, An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Cambridge. Shuy, R. 1984, ‘Linguistics in Other Professions’, Annual Review of Anthropology, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 419-445. Read More