From what is explained on the 'Levels of Language' page we can see that
we need at least the following levels of language to be able to explain
how language works:
Meaning
Lexis ('word meaning')
Semantics ('sentence meaning')
Pragmatics ('meaning in context')
Intertextual features
Grammar
Syntax and Morphology
Sounds/Writing
Shapes
Phonology (speech)
Graphology (writing)
But you should note that this specification of levels is by no means
the complete levels story. Once sentences are put together in texts and
spoken discourse we will need to consider other aspects of linguistic
organisation (e.g. text-structure in writing and turn-taking in conversation).
Moreover, it is important to realise that the notion of linguistic levels
is really only a metaphor for what might be better thought of as different
aspects of language. This is because the levels metaphor sometimes leads
students into unreasonable assumptions, for example (i) that the sounds
of language are somehow more basic than other aspects because this level
is normally put at the bottom of a levels diagram, or (ii) that meaning
is somehow more important because it usually comes at the top.
Another way of conceiving of the major aspects of language without the
notion of levels is to see them as spokes of a wheel.
Press the "play"
button below to see what we mean.
Next we will look at the notion of linguistic levels used in explaining
how some advertising slogans work.
