List of language subsystems

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a terminological list that collects terms used to denote (types of) “communicative subsystems” of a language (a communicative system). Each of them may have its sphere of application, some of them might be synonymous, and also, when language is used in a broad sense, the objects denoted by the terms are languages.

• Standard language.

There are five major language subsystems that are common to competent speakers of a language:

• Phonology- the system of sounds in a language, the rules for combining these sounds into words and proper stress and intonation of sentences.
• Semantics- the meaning attached to words and sentences.
• Morphology- the system for combining units of meaning to make words or modify word meaning.
• Syntax- rules for organizing words into phrases.
• Pragmatics- a set of rules governing when to use language and what sort of language should be used in front of members of certain groups.

[edit] Dialect–language distinction

Dialect, language; idiom; Abstandsprache, Ausbausprache, Dachsprache.

[edit] Code-switching

Code, subcode.

[to be completed]

[edit] See also

• Variety (linguistics)