linguistic theories

Linguistic theories explore how languages are structured, used, and evolve. They examine patterns like sounds (phonetics), sentence rules (syntax), meanings (semantics), and how we understand context (pragmatics). Different theories offer explanations: some focus on innate brain structures that enable language (nativism), while others see language as learned through experience and social interaction (empiricism). These theories help us understand how people communicate, how languages change over time, and how we acquire language skills, guiding fields like linguistics, cognitive science, and language education.