What is language? -...

What is language?

© Dr.K.T.Khader

- 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.”

© Dr.K.T.Khader

1. “ Language is a primarily human and non-instinctive

method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by

means 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

conditions of the speakers”.

R..H. Robins, 1985

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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

means of which a social group cooperate.”

Wardaugh, 1972

© Dr.K.T.Khader

- 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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

Characteristics of Language:

- Language is a means of communication

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

LANGUAGE IS ARBITRARY

There is no inherent relation between the

words of a language and their meanings

or the ideas conveyed by them.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

LANGUAGE IS A SYMBOL

SYSTEM

A symbol is a concrete event,

object or mark that stands for something

relatively abstract. e.g. ball ,+ cross

© Dr.K.T.Khader

Human language Animal com. system

1- unlimited and infinite. 1- limited and finite

2- open system 2- closed system

3- extendable, modifiable

3- un-extendable, un-modifiable

4- flexible and full of variety 4- inflexible and without

variety

5- non instinctive 5- instinctive

6- acquired 6- inherited

7- conditioned by geography 7- not conditioned by

geography

8- full of creativity 8- no creativity

9- has grammaticality 9- no grammaticality

10- cognitive as well as

behavioral

10- only behavioral

11- descriptive and narrative 11- non descriptive and non

narrative © Dr.K.T.Khader

LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of Words: Knowing the sound units

that are related to specific meanings.

Knowledge of Sentences: Knowing how to form

sentences.

Knowledge of the Sound System: Knowing what

sounds are in that language and what sounds are

not.

© Dr.K.T.Khader

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