**Semantics:** - Semantics is the least developed branch of linguistics, but its study is increasingly recognized as essential. - Structuralists view word meaning as a function of its relationships within a lexical subsystem, such as color terms. - The meaning of a sentence is influenced by its grammatical structure, with recent work focusing on the relationship between semantics and syntax. - Componential analysis attempts to describe word meanings in terms of universal semantic components, but cultural context is crucial for many words. **Linguistic Description and Analysis:** - Tagmemic theory, developed by Pike, views language as an integral part of human behavior and seeks a unified theory to explain it. - Tagmemics emphasizes the importance of raw data collection and analysis, and its theory aligns with Halliday's systemic grammar. **Psycholinguistics:** - Oller, Sales, and Harrington critique transformational theory, emphasizing the need to study performance over competence. - They argue that theories must be testable through empirical studies to be meaningful. **Stylistics:** - Stylistics focuses on the 'how' of literary effects, bridging the gap between subjective interpretation and objective analysis. - Linguistics can help define key terms in literary theory and sensitize areas of critical blind spots, such as sound patterning. **Communication:** - Oller critiques transformational grammar for ignoring the ordinary use of language and treating it as a self-contained system. - He argues that language is best understood in communicative contexts, where the speaker's ability to use language for communication is crucial. - Pragmatics emphasizes the relationships between linguistic forms and situational settings, highlighting the importance of context in language use.**Semantics:** - Semantics is the least developed branch of linguistics, but its study is increasingly recognized as essential. - Structuralists view word meaning as a function of its relationships within a lexical subsystem, such as color terms. - The meaning of a sentence is influenced by its grammatical structure, with recent work focusing on the relationship between semantics and syntax. - Componential analysis attempts to describe word meanings in terms of universal semantic components, but cultural context is crucial for many words. **Linguistic Description and Analysis:** - Tagmemic theory, developed by Pike, views language as an integral part of human behavior and seeks a unified theory to explain it. - Tagmemics emphasizes the importance of raw data collection and analysis, and its theory aligns with Halliday's systemic grammar. **Psycholinguistics:** - Oller, Sales, and Harrington critique transformational theory, emphasizing the need to study performance over competence. - They argue that theories must be testable through empirical studies to be meaningful. **Stylistics:** - Stylistics focuses on the 'how' of literary effects, bridging the gap between subjective interpretation and objective analysis. - Linguistics can help define key terms in literary theory and sensitize areas of critical blind spots, such as sound patterning. **Communication:** - Oller critiques transformational grammar for ignoring the ordinary use of language and treating it as a self-contained system. - He argues that language is best understood in communicative contexts, where the speaker's ability to use language for communication is crucial. - Pragmatics emphasizes the relationships between linguistic forms and situational settings, highlighting the importance of context in language use.