“Language is a fundamental part of being human.”

What is linguistics? What does God have to say about language? In this first session, Professor Van Engen helps us understand why we as Christians should care about language, as well as how linguistics can help us understand unknown information.

Key Terms

Linguistics: The scientific study of human language and how it works.

Prescriptive Rules: Social conventions that govern how language should be used, often based on societal norms. 

Mental Grammar: The rules in the minds of speakers that dictate the way language is used.

Main Points

• Language is a fascinating aspect of God’s creation that He is interested in and curious about.
• Linguistics is the scientific study of human language, and linguists are primarily interested in understanding how language works, regardless of whether its use matches the norms of society.
• Much of our knowledge of language is implicit, and this can affect the way we perceive and treat people who speak differently from us.

Content Questions

• Had you previously thought of language as something that God cares about?
• In what ways have you observed language connecting or dividing people? How often is it based on societal norms? What about implicit knowledge?
• How might understanding language better help you connect to people in the Church?

Application Questions

• Consider the ways that your Christian community engages with language. If language is something that God cares about, how should the Church think about it? How can you lead your Christian community to consider language and care about how it is used and understood?
• What barriers do you see that keep Christians from using language well? Which of these issues might be widespread? Which ones are more specific to your community?