International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (ijsell) Volume 2, Issue 8, August 2014, pp 116-130

Noer Doddy Irmawati, Dr. M.Hum
 
 
International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 117
unity, its princip, its character, its structure, and language change. The third definition is “the 
scientific study of language” (Ronald Wardhaugh, 1972: 213).
Verhaar in his writing concluded that linguistics is a science that has a formal object spoken and 
written language, which has the characteristics of differentciate, the terms: systematic, rational, 
empirical, generally, as a divider structure differentciate of fact, the parts and the rules of 
language (2001: 58). 
Linguistics is described as the science and language as an object (Verhaar, 2001: 58). In general 
linguistics commonly defined as the science of language or science that takes language as an 
object of study. If it is said that the linguistic object of the study is language, while language itself 
is a phenomenon that is presented in all the activities of human life, then Linguistic becomes a 
very broad field of study. Thus the knowledge and mastery of the field of linguistics have a lot of 
benefits for language teaching. 
Based on the description above and pay attention to the title of this paper, the writer will discuss 
several subjects, among others: what structural linguistics; what was the language; what is meant 
by language teaching; what are the benefits of linguistics in language teaching; how the 
relationship between linguistics and language teaching. 
2.
 
S
TRUCTURAL 
L
INGUISTICS 
 
The flow of Structural Linguistics was born in the early twentieth century or precisely in the year 
of 1916. This year becoming the birth of monumental structural flow, because in that year a book 
entitled “Course de Linguistique Generale” by de Saussure was published, which contains the 
main points of the structural theory as well as the thoughts of modern linguistics. Before the 
theory emerged, the world of linguistics has not moved from the traditional theory. The presence 
of de Saussure‟s works really perceived as a revolution. Therefore, it is not surprising that de 
Saussure given the title as the "Father of Structuralism" and at the same time as the "Father of 
Modern Linguistics".
 
Before, this structural flow is putting form and meaning in a balanced position, but in its 
development becoming a variety of versions. There is a version that is more emphasis on the 
terms of shape and some versions that are more emphasis on the meaning of terms.