Semantics, or the study of meaning, remained undeveloped, while phonetics made rapid progress and even came to occupy the central place in the scientific study of language.
This quote highlights a fascinating historical observation about the development of linguistics. It suggests that early scientific efforts favored the physical aspects of language, such as sounds, over the abstract study of meaning. This emphasis on phonetics reflects a period when understanding speech production and acoustics was seen as the gateway to deciphering language itself. However, this shift also underscores the importance of semantics, the study of meaning, which often receives less immediate focus but is crucial for grasping how humans communicate complex ideas. The dynamic between physical sounds and abstract meanings continues to shape linguistic research, demonstrating that both are integral to a comprehensive understanding of language systems.
