[ling-gwis-tiks] 
) | the science of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and historical linguistics. |
| lin·guis·tics (lĭng-gwĭs'tĭks) n. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the nature, structure, and variation of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics. |