The Literary World

Introduction

Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) one of the most notable Swiss linguist argued that an adequate treatment of the effect of time calls for a radical distinction between the two branches of linguistics and i.e. Synchronic and Diachronic linguistics.

Synchronic

Synchronic linguist, studies langue, which is a system that is psychologically real, thus it is the study of linguistic system in a particular state at a point of time.

For example; language at a particular point of time like, studying English now would be a synchronic study of modern English.

Diachronic

Diachronic linguistic is concerned with the relation of succession between individual items, which speakers are unaware of and which are not systematic, thus it is the study of its evolution in time.

For example; language change over time like, from old English to middle English and later to modern English, would be Diachronic linguistic.

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