Linguistics is far from a simple science. It seems that it is impossible to learn the language to the end, but many experts have been trying for many centuries in a row to trace the trends of its development, establish some patterns, recognize the factors that influence changes in it. In the work of many researchers, the concept of "diachrony and synchrony" sometimes occurs, which divides the study of language into two directions. What is hidden behind these terms and why do they influence the theory of linguistics in such a way?
Start of explanation
Synchrony and diachrony in a language are related to the concept of time. In the first case, language is understood as a static system, and the object of the study of linguistics is its state at this particular moment.
In the case of diachrony, the evolution of a language is considered, all its phenomena are arranged in a peculiar sequence, at the end of which stands the language in its current state. If we draw a parallel with the work of I. A. Baudouin de Courtenay, a Polish linguist of the 19th century, we can find out that synchrony and diachrony are the same as statics and dynamics, respectively.
Ferdinand de Saussure and his theory
For the first time, these concepts are introduced into linguistics by the Swiss Ferdinand de Saussure. Synchronism and diachrony, in his opinion, are inextricable: speech is both moment and evolution, it is an active activity of the present and, at the same time, a product of the past. Saussure notes that diachrony is an evolutionary series in which only one stage of development can be seen at a time. The totality of all the stages demonstrates the long path of change that the language had to go through before it reached its present state.
And synchrony is a series of simultaneous interconnected stages, that is, there is no development and influence of time, there is only the state of the language at the moment.
New areas of linguistics
Saussure continues his work by introducing two new areas of linguistics, which study synchrony and diachrony in linguistics. In the first case, in synchronous linguistics, the focus is on the connections of language elements, that is, the entire system. In addition, synchrony is based on the perception of language by all its speakers, its acceptance by the collective consciousness.
As for diachronic linguistics, it works with the same elements, but considers them sequentially, not considering how the collective consciousness perceives them. The elements of language succeed each other and are not a system - this is the main thesis of diachronic linguistics.
Sources of information for synchronization and diachrony
Synchrony is the study of the elements of only one language, and not spraying onto many, even related languages, existing in one period of time. Diachrony can work with several languages at the same time, comparing the evolution of their elements. Synchronous linguistics receives information about its object of study only from subjects between whom speech interaction takes place, while diachronic linguistics is forced to evaluate past experience and take into account the current development of the language - that is, it considers more aspects than synchronous.
What are they connected with?
Synchronism and diachrony in linguistics are also related to its specific sections. Statics, that is, synchronous linguistics, works with general grammar - it is it that most fully reflects the relationship of all elements of the language. Separately, it is worth noting that synchronization is prone to conditional simplification of data, otherwise the language system will not be created.
Diachronic linguistics focuses on phonetics, because sounds are never fixed in any one state: time, inextricably linked with fashionable trends and realities, constantly makes adjustments to pronunciation. That is why they are the main object of study of dynamic linguistics.
Together or separately?
Saussure, who introduced the concept of synchrony and diachrony into linguistics, emphasized that in no case should they be merged, since these aspects of linguistics are opposite to each other. But he agreed that linguists more often rely on synchronous linguistics, which can provide answers to many language questions, while studying the dynamics of a language is just a recalling tool, presented by the evolution of disparate factors, some of which are not always available for perception.
Yes, statics allows you to create a balance in the language that is so necessary for him, but without diachrony, its further evolution would be impossible.
The relationship of synchronization and diachrony
At the same time, one cannot say that synchrony is only a reflection of the current state of language. Synchronous linguistics can demonstrate the state of the language in the 11th century, and in the 16th - in any time interval. By the way, with the help of such sections of synchronization it is possible to trace the development of speech: in one section, what will disappear or change later (for example, over time, the modern Russian language got rid of part of vowels, changed the pronunciation of some combinations of consonants, acquired categories animation and inanimate). It is thanks to these "weak", mutable elements that it is possible to study the evolution of the language, that is, consider it in the diachronic aspect.
Forecasting Synchronism and Diachrony
As already mentioned many times above, synchrony and diachrony in a language are interconnected. Variable elements of it cause evolution, while the stable parts are preserved in synchronous sections, forming the individuality of the language, creating what distinguishes it from all other dialects, even of a related family. Synchrony and diachrony in linguistics only complement each other, allowing, based on an analysis of the evolution of the language and taking into account the form of its synchronous sections at different stages of development, to predict its further behavior: to identify new “weak” links that will soon undergo a rethinking, and more reinforce the fact that several stages of linguistic evolution have already passed. For this, dynamic linguistics needs to focus not only on individual elements, but also on the development of the entire system as a whole.
The study of the Russian language: the origin
Now that we already know the concept of synchrony and diachrony, we will try to explore all of us with the close Russian language in terms of these two aspects of linguistics. Firstly, the debate about which group of languages Russian belongs to has been going on for a very long time: someone says that this is a Finno-Ugric group (but then native speakers should understand the languages of Scandinavia, which, unfortunately, is not available to them), others note that it was not without Tatar influence (the same story here as with the Scandinavians - the Tatar language is unlikely to be understood by a native Russian speaker).
With the advent of Christianity in the Russian lands, the first synchronous cut of the language appears: in the dialect of Ancient Russia there are interspersed church-book Old Slavonic, which nevertheless remained alien to most ordinary people.
Second cut: a window to Europe
The next synchronous cut is the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Yes, it is very far from the first, but for several centuries in Russia, which historically has been a fairly closed state, very few changes have occurred in the language. In the 17th century, Peter the Great, having cut a window into Europe, introduces a huge number of borrowed terms into his native language, and simply words of foreign origin.
From this moment on, with each new monarch, the Russian language receives more and more foreign concepts, is replenished with new lexical turns, constructions, refuses some of its structures (for example, the so-called vocative case, still preserved in Ukrainian and Polish: mother, brother , etc.), changes its phonetic composition (if we compare the 17th century Russian with its first synchronous cut, it will become clear that half of the original vowel sounds were removed from the language so that to simplify it, by the way, consonant combinations of sounds were added).
Synchronous slice of modern Russian language
Synchrony is a demonstration of the result of the diachronic development of a language. If we compare the second synchronous slice with modern Russian, it will become obvious that the language has simplified even more over the past few centuries. Thanks to Peter, the first general grammar appeared, which contained mandatory rules for everyone. Today, there is a tendency to devaluation of these rules, due to the fact that some speakers cannot fully speak the language. Yes, there are archaisms, some structures and turnovers that are really difficult to explain, but at the same time it is frightening to abuse a speech, forcing it to evolve, rather than adjusting to it. Today, diachronic analysis shows that the borrowing of foreign words will continue to persist, they will gradually supplant the original Russian words, after some time some historical turns will begin to disappear, giving way to globalized simplification.
Conclusion
So, we now know the meaning of the word "synchrony", we understand the difference between this term and the diachrony in tune with it. In addition, we not only understood the theorist of these concepts, but also conducted a small analysis of the Russian language. We hope that such complex terms have become even a little closer and clearer.