M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

---

SHIVAJI UNIVERSITY, KOLHAPUR
CENTRE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION
M. A. Part-I : English
Semester-I : Paper C-3
Introduction to Modern Linguistics
Semester-II : Paper C-5
Fiction in English : Modern and
Post Modern Fiction
(Academic Year 2018-19 onwards)
H
I
K
J

---

1 
UNIT - 1 
NATURE, SCOPE AND BRANCHES OF 
LINGUISTICS 
1.1 Introduction
Language is the quickest tool of communication used by human 
beings. It comes to most of the human beings quite naturally and effortlessly 
though it is not instinctive. It is not instinctive because it does not come by 
birth. It is acquired by humans in the initial stages of their physical and 
mental development. It can be acquired at any stage of development but it 
needs special efforts on the part of the learner except in case of the language 
in practice around them.
Languages change from place to place. If it is a continuous continental 
place, the changes are identifiable but if the locations are totally different, the 
languages may be totally disconnected. Linguists all over the world have 
identified more than six thousand languages. This makes the study of 
language more enigmatic and attracts special attention of the scholars.
1.2 Objectives
After studying this unit, you will be able to 
1) 
understand the nature of human language.
2) 
know characteristics of human language. 
3) 
understand the branch known as linguistics.

---

2 
4) 
understand the nature of linguistic enquiry.
5) 
know the areas of linguistic enquiry.
6) 
understand the scope of linguistics.
7) 
know different branches of linguistics.