Subfields of linguistics

• General linguistics
  • Phonetics – the study of the speech faculty
  • Phonology – the usage of vocalized sounds and systems of sounds to form language
  • Morphology – the property of sound and meaning dynamics in language
  • Syntax – the property of grammar that governs sentence structure
  • Semantics – the study of meaning as encoded in grammar
  • Pragmatics – the study of how context contributes to meaning
  • Graphemics – the study of writing systems
    • Graphetics – the study of writing shapes as assigned to sounds or ideas
• Theoretical linguistics – the study of language as an abstract object
  • Generative linguistics – an approach which seeks to ground grammar in a specialized language module
  • Formalism (linguistics) – the theory of language as a formal system with mathematical-logical rules and a formal grammar
  • Functional linguistics – language as used and coming from use
  • Quantitative linguistics – the study of quantitative language laws and corresponding general theories
  • Formal semantics – the study of semantics through formal logic-based models
• Descriptive linguistics – describing how a particular language is used
  • Anthropological linguistics – the place of language in its wider social and cultural context, and its role in making and maintaining cultural practices and societal structures
  • Historical linguistics – study of historical language change over time
  • Comparative linguistics – comparing languages to find similarities and historical connections
  • Etymology – the study of word histories and origins
  • Lexicology – the study of vocabularies and the structural relationships between many different words
  • Historical linguistics – study of language change over time. Also called diachronic linguistics.
  • Language geography – study of the geographical distribution of languages and linguistic features.
  • Sociolinguistics – the study of society's effects on language
  • Discourse analysis – analysis of language use in texts (spoken, written, or signed)
  • Linguistic typology – comparative study of the similarities and differences between language structures in the world's languages.
• Applied linguistics – study of language-related issues applied in everyday life, notably language policies, planning, and education. (Constructed language fits under Applied linguistics.)
  
  • Computational linguistics – the use of computation applied to language databasing, analysis, translation, and synthesis
  • Forensic linguistics – language science applied to the processes of law and justice
  • Internet linguistics – the study of language usage on the Internet
  • Language assessment – assessing first or second language faculty in individuals
  • Language documentation – comprehensive description of the grammar and use practices of languages of a particular group
  • Language revitalization – is an attempt to halt or reverse the decline of a language or to revive an extinct one
  • Language education – teaching specific language and language science
  • Linguistic anthropology – study of how language influences social life
• Psycholinguistics – is the study of the psychological and neurobiological factors that enable humans to acquire, use, comprehend and produce language
  • Cognitive linguistics – an approach which seeks to ground grammar in general cognition
  • Language acquisition – the study of how children and adults acquire language knowledge and ability
  • Language development – the study of early language formation
  • Second-language acquisition – the study of how a second language is learned
  • Developmental linguistics – study of the development of linguistic ability in individuals, particularly the acquisition of language in childhood.
  • Neurolinguistics – study of the structures in the human brain that underlie grammar and communication.
  • Psycholinguistics – study of the cognitive processes and representations underlying language use.
  • Biolinguistics – the study of the biological and evolutionary components of human language.
  • Clinical linguistics – application of linguistic theory to the field of Speech-Language Pathology.