When we know a language, we can speak and be understood by others who know that language.

This means that you have capacity to produce sounds that signify certain meanings and to
understand or interpret the sounds produced by others (see Fromkin et. al., 1990). Our knowledge
about language is simply called linguistic knowledge. Thus, what is linguistics? Lim (1975:3)
defines that linguistics is the scientific study of language. Linguistics has also the framework or
theoretical methods that could be categorized as the scientific method; in this case scientific
method for human and social studies. Language analysis is done systematically within the
framework of some general theory of language structure.
The word ―linguistics‖ was firstly used in England in 1837. Linguistics scholars like Henry Sweet
and Otto Jespersen have tried to infuse the findings of linguistics into language teaching for nearly
a hundred years. The modern study of language has its root in antiquity. The kind of grammar
commonly taught in schools before the coming of modern linguistics is called traditional grammar.
A major weakness of this grammar is that it is inconsistent in the criteria used for defining the part
of speech. Another characteristics of traditional grammar is that it is normative or prescriptive.

so far you have studied the nature of language and the science of language. Hopefully, the
information and materials presented in the unit 1 and unit 2 could give you good basic foundation
of the introduction to linguistics. In unit 3, you are coming to learn about linguistics classification.
The topics discussed in this unit are micro-linguistics and macro-linguistics. As a science,
linguistics have been becoming more and more challenging for most social experts, especially for
those who are interested in language. The study of language not only tends to be interesting but
also goes to wide development. During the early periods, language was studied in a relatively
narrow scope; say language was studied based on the language itself. However, nowadays the
study of language has been developing to be much wider. Consequently, linguistics today is not
only the study of language in the scope of language itself, but it is seen from other sides of language
environments as well. In accordance with this, linguistics has been one big discipline of human‘s
science.
This unit tries to give you a brief introduction to linguistics classification based on two big
classifications; micro and macro linguistics. This brief discussion will provide you with
information about the division of linguistics and some branches (fields) of linguistics. By knowing
the linguistics classification and fields in linguistic studies, you will be able to see the linguistic
phenomena deeply and systematically. Then it will be easier for you to study and categorize the
linguistic phenomena in the right path. This knowledge will also lead you to study language further
or to apply them in language teaching in practical ways.
As a science, linguistics have been becoming more and more challenging for most social experts,
especially linguists and others who are interested in language. The study of language not only tends
to be interesting but also goes to wide development. During the early periods, language was studied
in a relative narrow scope, but nowadays it has been developing to much wider. Consequently,
linguistics today is not only the study of language in the scope of language itself, but it is seen
from other sides of language environments, as well. In accordance with this, linguistics has been
one big discipline of human‘s science.
The development of linguistics has a tendency to be ―linguistics plus‖; linguistics which is more
than internal segments of language itself. This unit tries to give a brief introduction to linguistics
classification based on two big classification; micro and macro linguistics. This brief discussion
will provide you with information about the division of linguistics and fields of linguistics. By
knowing the linguistics classification and some fields of linguistics, you will be able to see the
linguistic phenomena deeply and specifically. Then it will be easier for you to study and categorize
the linguistic phenomena in the right path. This knowledge will also lead you to study language
further or to apply them in language teaching.
1. Microlinguistics
In general and based on the scope of the study, linguistics could be classified into two big
classifications, namely microlinguistics and macrolinguistics. Meanwhile, based on the purpose of
linguistics itself, it may be divided into two divisions, as well. They are theoretical linguistics and
applied linguistics. Theoretical linguistics is a type of linguistic study to find and to formulate rules
operating in language. On the other hand, applied linguistics is the linguistic study or activity in
language field which aims to overcome practical problems. Theoretical linguistics could be either
general or specific. General theoretical linguistics (frequently called general linguistics) tries to
study and understand general characteristics of various languages. While specific theoretical
linguistics attempts to study specific characteristics of certain language (see Kridalaksana in
Kentjono, 1990:11).
Then, what is microlinguistics? The term microlinguistics refers to the branches or fields of
linguistics which studies language based only on the language itself; the study of language from
internal side of the language. The fields/branches of linguistics which could be categorized as
microlinguistics are theoretical linguistics, descriptive linguistics, and historical-comparative
linguistics. In this category, theoretical linguistics refers to the field of linguistics focusing on
general theories and methods in linguistic studies. In this sense, descriptive linguistics (it is also
called synchronic linguistics) is the branch of linguistics which studies the system of languages in
certain time; without paying attention to its development from one period to other periods. The
following fields of linguistics are the descriptive linguistics.
a. phonology (the study of sounds system of a particular language);
b. morphology (the study of words structure and its parts);
c. syntax (the study of sentence, including phrase and clause);
d. semantics (the study of linguistic meaning); and
e. lexicology (the study of vocabulary of lexicon).
Historical-comparative linguistics (it is also called diachronic linguistics) studies the development
and comparison of certain language(s) in relation to time (or periods). The historical-comparative
linguistics could be specified into:
a. historical-comparative phonology;
b. historical-comparative morphology;
c. historical-comparative syntax;
d. historical-comparative semantics; and
e. historical-comparative lexicology (see Kridalaksana in Kentjono, 1990:11—13).
2. Macrolinguistics
According to Lyons as quoted by Kridalaksana in Kentjono (1990:11), macrolinguistics is the
classification of linguistics that studies language in relation to factors outside of the language. It
includes the interdisciplinary studies of language and applied linguistics. Interdisciplinary studies
of language is the study of language in which its materials and approaches use other disciplines of
science. There many fields or branches of linguistics which belong to macrolingusitics. They are:
phonetics, stylistics, philosophy of language, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics,
philology, semiotics, ephygraphy, language teaching, translation, lexicography, applied phonetics,
applied sociolinguistics, international language establishment, specific language establishment,
medical linguistics, graphology, and mechanolinguistics.
Let‘s see in brief explanation of those linguistic fields mentioned above. Phonetics is the study of
linguistic sounds for all languages. It is the interdisciplinary study between linguistics and physic,
anatomy, and psychology. Stylistics is a science to study language in the form of literature. It is
the combination between linguistics and literature. Then, philosophy of language is a science that
studies the nature and position of language and basic concepts and theories of linguistics. Next,
let‘s see psycholinguistics. Psycholinguistics is the study to see the relationship between language
and human behavior. Meanwhile, sociolinguistics tries to study the relation between language and
society. In other side, ethnolinguistics studies the relationship between language and countryside
society or society with no written system. Philology is the study of language, culture, and history
of a country as they are written or printed in written materials. And then, semiotics is a science
which studies figures, symbols, or signs. Ephygraphy, in this case, is the study about ancient
inscription.
In the part of applied linguistics, macrolinguistics may have language teaching, translation,
lexicography, applied phonetics, applied sociolinguistics. International language establishment
includes the attempt to create international mutual intelligibility of language or communication by
means of created language, such as Esperanto, Novial, Basic English, etc. Specific language
establishment includes the establishment of certain terms and language style for particular field,
for instance terms for military, flight, sailing, etc.. Medical linguistics refers to the study of speech
defects (or language errors). It is also called language pathology. Graphology is the science about
writing system, while mechanolingusitics includes the use of linguistics in computer science and
the attempt to create the translating machine, and computer for linguistic studies. This field is also
called computerized linguistics (see Kridalaksana in Kentjono, 1990:11—15).
Beside the micro and macro linguistics, there is also ―the history of linguistics‖. The history of
linguistics is a branch of linguistics that studies the development of linguistics per period and
studies the effect of other sciences and social regulations (such as belief, culture, education, etc.)
to linguistics all time (Kridalaksana in Kentjono, 1990). The history of linguistics may give us
information how the science about language have begun and developed until present time and the
prediction for the future. However, the prediction of linguistics in the future time is not the main
thing which is discussed in this field although the prediction is possibly argued.
It is belied that you have got information about the linguistics classification under the subtopics
microlinguistics and macrolinguistics. These two terms refers to the classification of linguistics
based on the scope of study. Other bases of classification, such as based on purpose, time, and type
have been included this unit as well. Now we are coming to exercise. Do exercise well!
All right! Please be serious but relax! Before you continue to part II which talks about
macrolinguistics, why don‘t you do the following exercise first! Try to understand and train
yourself in a good way!.
Bibliography
Crane, L. Ben et. al. (1981). An Introduction to Lingusitics. USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.
Currie, William B. (1975). New Directions in Teaching English Language. London: Longman Group Limited.
-Fromkin, Victoria, et. al. (1990). An Introduction to Language. Sydney: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
-Kentjono, Joko. (1990). Dasar-Dasar Linguistik Umum. Jakarta: Fakultas Sastra Universitas Indonesia.
-Lim, Kiat Boey. (1975). An Introduction to Linguistics for the Language Teacher. Singapore: Singapore University
Press.
O‘Grady, William et. al. (1993). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction. New York: St. Martin Press.
Stern, H.H. (1994). Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. (1972). Introduction to Linguistics. New York: McGraw Hill Book.