The 5 Subsystems of Language

The following table includes the 5 subsystems of language: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.  For each subsystem I have included an academic definition, a student-friendly definition, an example of the subsystem, and a classroom activity relating to the subsystem.

Phonology
Academic Definition	Phonology is the study of sound systems in language. This includes phonemes (the smallest units of sound), intonation/stress patterns, and syllable structure/sound sequence.
Student-Friendly Definition	Phonology is the study of the sounds we make when speaking in a certain language.
Example	t says /t/ in baton but /sh/ in nation
Classroom Activity	Matching words that rhyme with images – PA.002 (Florida Center for Reading Research)
Morphology
Academic Definition	Morphology is the study of the structure of words.  This includes morphemes, the smallest units of meaning, and how they are used.  These morphemes include root words, suffixes, prefixes, and the parts of compound words.
Student-Friendly Definition	Morphology is the study of how words are built with letters.
Example	Paint has one morpheme, paint. Painted has two morphemes, paint and –ed. The –ed makes the base word past-tense.  Repainted has three morphemes, paint, –ed and re-, which changed the meaning to imply that it was painted again.
Classroom Activity	Compound word puzzles and inflection puzzles P.057 and P.058 (Florida Center for Reading Research)
Syntax
Academic Definition	Syntax is the rules that govern the way that words are organized in a sentence and the way sentences are arranged.
Student-Friendly Definition	Syntax is the way words are put together to make sentences.
Example	In the English language, we put adjectives before the noun that they are describing. In other languages, like Spanish, this is the opposite, and adjectives come after the words that they describe.
Classroom Activity	Create complex sentences using “sequence trains” LV20 (Florida Center for Reading Research)
Semantics
Academic Definition	Semantics is the study of the meaning and relationships of words, phrases, and sentences in a language.  It also addresses linguistic expressions, modality, and cognates.
Student-Friendly Definition	Semantics is the meaning in spoken or written language.
Example	The word leaves can refer to the plural of “leaf” or is a form of the verb “leave.”
Classroom Activity	Identify multiple meanings of words with word webs V.019 (Florida Center for Reading Research)
Pragmatics
Academic Definition	Pragmatics is the study of language in context. Pragmatics also addresses “invisible” meaning in language.
Student-Friendly Definition	Pragmatics is the study of how language is used and the hidden meaning in language
Example	The question “Why did you do that?” said by a teacher in the context of a student completing a classroom project is likely genuine in its need for a response and would encourage a student to vocalize their critical thinking and problem solving skills.  The same question said by a parent after a child draws on the walls or furniture would have a different meaning.
Classroom Activity	Identifying facts vs. opinions  C.019 (Florida Center for Reading Research)