What do linguists primarily study?

Linguists primarily study the origins of language in general, which encompasses understanding how language has evolved over time, the biological and cognitive processes that contribute to language acquisition, and the ways in which language is used in various contexts. This study also involves examining the properties that make human language unique compared to animal communication.

While the origins of specific languages and the development of writing systems are important subfields within linguistics, they are more specialized topics. The sounds of all human languages, known as phonetics and phonology, is another crucial area, but it represents just a portion of what linguists investigate. Thus, the broad approach of studying the origins of language as a whole forms the foundation of linguistic inquiry and encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and historical linguistics.