Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language.

Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language. The study of language

must begin with certain idea about language. Language is perhaps the most interesting entity that mankind has ever come across. We use language for communicating our thoughts and feelings with others and the language we use is transmitted from generation to generation without much deliberate effort on our part. Those who have not studied language systematically do use language with much ease and they are never bothered about the complexities of the ways in which the constituent elements of language combine and organize to make meaningful utterances.

 This fact does not make us come to the conclusion

that the systematic and scientific study of language is meaningless. The study of language\ is significant as it ultimately takes us to the beginnings of our culture and social life. Language has become an essential part of our lives. The study of language in a scientific and systematic way is therefore, significant both in terms of academic and cultural point ofview.

 Language occupies an important place in the lives of human beings. Language is the very medium of expression. The everyday activities of life are sure to come to an end unless language functions as a means of communication. Language is inextricably tied up with the social and cultural evolution of mankind. Language is as familiar to us as the air we breathe or the saliva that we carry in our mouth. So we are hardly conscious of its significance. However, the effects of language are most remarkable. It is in fact language that distinguishes human beings from the animals. C. L. Barber rightly remarked: “Language is the most remarkable tool that man has invented and is one that makes all other

possible”