What is language What is language There is

















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What is language?

What is language? - There is no comprehensive definition of language. The only answer to the question “What is language? ” is “Language is language”. - Language is a very complex human phenomenon. - In a nutshell, language is an organized voice used in actual social situations. - In the Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 13. , language is defined as “ a system of conventional, spoken or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participant in its culture, communicate. ”

Some other definitions which are currently popular in linguistics circles are cited below : 1. “ Language is a primarily human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by of a system of voluntarily produced symbols. ” Edward Sapir, Language, 1921 2. “ Language is a symbol system based on pure or arbitrary conventions…infinitely extendable and modifiable according to the changing needs and tions of the speakers”. R. . H. Robins, 1985

3. “ Language is a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements. ” Noam Chomsky, 1957 4. “ Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbol by of which a social group cooperate. ” 2

- It is clearly evident from all these definitions, none of which completely defines the term “Language”, that is not possible to have a single definition that brings out all the properties of language. - On the basis of these definitions one can, however, list out the various characteristics of Language.

Characteristics of Language: - Language is a means of communication

LANGUAGE IS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION People can communicate their ideas, emotions beliefs or feelings to each other, as they share a common code that makes up the language. Language is so important form of communication between humans that it is difficult to think of a society without language.

LANGUAGE IS ARBITRARY There is no inherent relation between the words of a language and their meanings or the ideas conveyed by them.

LANGUAGE IS A SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS. Lg. is not a chaotic combination of sounds. Sounds are arranged in certain fixed or established, systematic order to form meaning full units or words. Similarly, words are also arranged in a particular system.

LANGUAGE IS VOCAL Lg. is primarily made up of vocal sounds. It must have appeared as vocal sounds only. Writing must have come much later. �

LANGUAGE IS HUMAN. It differs from animal communication in � several ways. Humans convey and receive an infinite � number of messages through space where as animal com. System is extremely limited and developed.

LANGUAGE IS A FORM OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. Lg. has to be learnt in a society. A human child learns to speak the lg. of the community of the group in which he is placed. China, America, etc. �

LANGUAGE IS A SYMBOL SYSTEM A symbol is a concrete event, � object or mark that stands for something relatively abstract. e. g. ball , + cross �

HUMAN LANGUAGE AND ANIMAL COMMUNICATION


LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE Knowledge of the Sound System: Knowing what sounds are in that language and what sounds are not. Knowledge of Words: Knowing the sound units that are related to specific meanings. Knowledge of Sentences: Knowing how to form sentences.

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY See you next class Dr. Khader T. Khader