Introduction to Linguistics 2.Defining linguistics and language: (1)What is linguistics? --a scientific study of language. (2)What is language? language involves three activities: neural activity in the human brain; muscular activity of the human body; social activity in speech communication.Introduction to Linguistics 2. Defining linguistics and language: (1) What is linguistics? --a scientific study of language. (2) What is language? language involves three activities: neural activity in the human brain; muscular activity of the human body; social activity in speech communication