How Linguistics Connects with Anthropology: Epistemological and Cognitive Dimensions

Abstract

               Ferdinand de Saussure brought a scientific revolution to linguistic and literary studies by giving linguistic study an objective scientific imprint, treating it like any natural phenomenon. Following the scientific and cognitive development in the human sciences, linguistics began to open up to these fields, producing a new approach in linguistic studies. This approach is based on a critique of the methodological constraints of structuralism, leading to a transformed view of language: it came to be seen as a semiotic system developed to achieve multiple goals, foremost among them the function of social and cultural communication.

Based on this epistemological perspective, several scholarly efforts emerged focusing on the relationship between humans and language. This interest provided a significant epistemological and cognitive boost, paving the way for the emergence of interdisciplinary or hybrid studies—commonly referred to as the “cross-fertilization of sciences”—including sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and anthropological linguistics.

Accordingly, the topic of this study is framed as: How Linguistics Connects with Anthropology: Epistemological and Cognitive Dimensions.

From this perspective, the following questions are posed:

-      What are the concepts of linguistics and anthropology?

-      What are the principles and foundations of both linguistics and anthropology?

-      To what extent is there cognitive and methodological interaction between linguistics and anthropology?

-      What concepts have emerged from this interaction?

To answer these questions, the following plan has been adopted:

-      Definition of linguistics and anthropology

-      Principles and foundations of both linguistics and anthropology

-      The nature of the relationship between linguistics and anthropology