A diachronic study of language is the description of language at some point in time.

The study of the ways in which morphemes can be combined to form words is called morphology.

Social changes can often bring about language changes.

Modern linguistics is different from traditional grammar.

The study of meaning in language is known as semantics.

Modern linguistics is mostly prescriptive, but sometimes descriptive.

P （）refers to the realization of langue in actual use.

Syntax

The distinction between competence and performance was proposed by F. de Saussure.

Chomsky defines “competence” as the ideal user’s k（）of the rules of his language.