Linguistics was the science of language. Individuals who specialized in linguistics were known as linguists.
According to a deleted scene from the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Fallen Hero", Hoshi Sato was excited about her visit to Risa because "at any one time there can be thousands of visitors there speaking hundreds of different languages." She invited Malcolm Reed to join her, but he said that he was "hoping for something more than a linguistic seminar" out of his visit there.
In 2151, Doctor Phlox studied the Menk, observing that they were becoming increasing intelligent, noting their advancement in motor skills, and linguistic abilities. (ENT: "Dear Doctor")
In 2267, Spock became curious of the words spoken by the crew to the infant, Leonard James Akaar, "Oochy-woochy kootchie-koo." James T. Kirk described it as "an obscure Earth dialect" and that that perhaps he should consult linguistics for more information on the meaning. (TOS: "Friday's Child")
This most likely referred to the linguistics bank onboard the USS Enterprise.
In response to Commander Pavel Chekov's concerns about the USS Enterprise-A being discovered deep inside Klingon space in 2293, Captain Spock replied that what was required of them at the moment was a "feat of linguistic legerdemain and a degree of intrepidity" before Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy froze to death on Rura Penthe. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Related topics[]
- Chromolinguistics
- Exolinguistics
- Linguacode
- Linguistic database
- Semantics
- Translator
- Universal translator