Metalingvistiske

Metalingvistiske, or metalinguistics, is the study of language as an object of reflection and the capacity to think about and analyze language itself. It encompasses the analysis of linguistic structure—such as grammar, phonology, and semantics—as well as how language is used in social contexts, including discourse, norms, and communication practices. In education and psychology, metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to reflect on language, judge correctness, and manipulate linguistic forms.

The concept originates in part from the idea of metalinguistic function, a term associated with how language can be used to talk about language. Over time, metalinguistics has grown into an interdisciplinary area spanning linguistics, education, sociolinguistics, and discourse analysis. It focuses on both theoretical questions about language systems and practical questions about language learning, literacy, and communication.

Key topics within metalingvistiske include metalinguistic knowledge, code-switching, grammaticality judgments, and the negotiation of prescriptive versus descriptive norms. Applications are widespread, including language education and literacy development, second-language teaching, translation and localization, and the analysis of language in media and policy.

Examples of metalingvistiske phenomena include individuals explaining why a sentence sounds ungrammatical, or children and bilinguals reflecting on how language works and comparing rules across languages. Such awareness is central to language acquisition, critical language pedagogy, and discourse analysis.

See also: metalinguistic awareness, linguistics, discourse analysis.