理論語(yǔ)言學(xué)，或一般語(yǔ)言學(xué)，是語(yǔ)言學(xué)的一個(gè)分支，它研究語(yǔ)言本身的本質(zhì)，并試圖回答語(yǔ)言是什么的基本問(wèn)題;它是如何工作的;普遍語(yǔ)法(UG)作為一種領(lǐng)域特有的心理器官是如何運(yùn)作的，如果它存在的話;它的獨(dú)特性質(zhì)是什么;語(yǔ)言如何與其他認(rèn)知過(guò)程相聯(lián)系，等等。理論語(yǔ)言學(xué)家最關(guān)心的是構(gòu)建語(yǔ)言知識(shí)的模型，并最終發(fā)展成一種語(yǔ)言理論。一般認(rèn)為理論語(yǔ)言學(xué)的核心領(lǐng)域是音系學(xué)、形態(tài)學(xué)、句法和語(yǔ)義學(xué)。雖然音位學(xué)常常指導(dǎo)音系學(xué)，但它常常與語(yǔ)義學(xué)一起被排除在理論語(yǔ)言學(xué)的范圍之外。理論語(yǔ)言學(xué)還包括對(duì)語(yǔ)言共性的解釋，即所有或許多語(yǔ)言都具有的共性。

Theoretical linguistics, or general linguistics, is the branch of linguistics which inquires into the nature of language itself and seeks to answer fundamental questions as to what language is; how it works; how universal grammar (UG) as a domain-specific mental organ operates, if it exists at all; what are its unique properties; how does language relate to other cognitive processes, etc. Theoretical linguists are most concerned with constructing models of linguistic knowledge, and ultimately developing a linguistic theory.The fields that are generally considered the core of theoretical linguistics are phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Although phonetics often guides phonology, it is often excluded from the purview of theoretical linguistics, along with semantics. Theoretical linguistics also involves the search for an explanation of linguistic universals, that is, properties that all, or many languages have in common.