PSYCHOLINGUISTICS

Introduction

The term ‘psycholinguistics’ is a combination of psychology and linguistics. Both are the branches of sciences. Psychology is defined as the systematic study of human experience and behavior or as the science that studies the behavior of men and other animals Knight and Hilgert in Abu Ahmadi, 1992). There are several branches of psychology, among others, social psychology, psychology of communication, developmental psychology, educational psychology, and psychology of language. The last branches of psychology is often called as psycholinguistics.

SOCIOLINGUISTICS

Introduction

When a study of language in which the linguistic factors are related to the factors beyond the language, such as language use that is done by its speakers in a certain speech community, it refers to sociolinguistics. According to Fishman, for instance, socially, the language use involves “Who speaks, what language, to whom, when and where” Fishman, 1972:244).. When some aspects of sociology are adopted in studying a language, this means it presents an interdisciplinary study; and its name represents a combination of sociology and linguistics. In this relation, some experts call it as sociology of language; and some others call it as sociolinguistics.

LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGE TEACHING

Linguistics

Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language. From different viewpoints, as a science, linguistics can be divided into several branches, among others, descriptive linguistics and historical/comparative linguistics (if it is based its methodology), synchronic and diachronic linguistics (if is based on its aspect of time), and phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics (if it is based on a language as a system), and sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics (if it is related to or combined with the disciplines (sociology and psychology respectively).

LANGUAGE IN SOCIAL CONTEXT

Introduction

A discussion of language in social context is focussed on a language acquisition and language learning, significance of language in a community, and relation of language and society. The language acquisition is differentiated from the language learning. The former is unconsciously conducted by a language user, whereas the latter is consciously conducted by a language user. The significance of language in a community is viewed from the viewpoint of its importance in a community; and it is discussed in relation to the three inseparable elements in a community: human being, community, and language.

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

Language

            Before starting to discuss a language, sometimes we are necessary to define it. In this relation, we may make some questions such as: “What is a language?”, or “What do you know about a language”, or “What is meant by a language?” Someone’s answer may be different from that of the other. For instance, he says: “Oh, it is what we use in communication” or the other says: “It is made up of sentences that convey meaning”, or perhaps someone else says: “It is a means of communication”. If those definitions are viewed from the study of language, they are insufficient ones. Let us examine the following definitions:

A language is system of arbitrary, vocal symbols that permit all people in a given culture, or other people who have learned the system of that culture, to communicate or to interact (Finocchioro, in Ramelan 1984)