Word of the Week: The Five Domains of Language

The domains of language are the broad ways to analyze language. The five domains are phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. The domains can be understood as lenses through which we can study language, with each one contributing something different. When put together, they form our complex and ever-changing language system.

Phonology is the study of the sounds of speech and their rules. These speech sounds are called phonemes. Different languages contain different phonemes.

Morphology is the study of how the morphemes are used. Morphemes are the smallest units of language that have meaning. Morphemes can be words like dog or cook. They can also be parts of words that tell us something about the word, such as the “-s” on the end of dogs or the “-ing” on the end of cooking.

Syntax is the study of the rules that dictate how words can be arranged in a sentence. This involves word order and sentence structure.

Semantics is the study of the meaning of language. Words and sentences can be arranged to convey meaning in a straightforward way, or they might contain meaning in a more abstract way such as in figurative language.

Pragmatics is the study of the social rules of communication. With pragmatics, the function of language is emphasized instead of its structure. Social context can change the meaning of what is said, and this varies by culture.