Assessment

Answer the following questions:

1. Discuss the following comprehensively: (10 points each)

a. Why is language considered a set of signs? 

Language is considered as a set of sign for its main function is to communicate, to be able
to convey the message to the people that are listening or looking at the speaker. As we describe
language as a sign system we consider it as semiotic for the process of semiosis is how signs and
meaning are used and interpreted.

According to Saussure, signs are a pair and these are the signifier and signified. The two
should not be conceptualized as separate entities and rather used for locating or knowing the
significant difference in sound to potential different denotation.

b. Give your own definition of language. 

Language is the medium of communication that can be considered as alive. It changes

and reconstruct words to fit the current generation. It is new but old.
That is my definition of language for I have interpreted language as; language is for
everyone and it is clear that it has structure, it is arbitrary and more. Language is alive for as long
as humans know their language even though the structure will change, pronunciation as well as
grammar but it is a way of communication that will remain new but old.

c. What function does language play in daily life?

Language plays a vital role in our lives. Language cannot be defined by words for
language is anything that can help us communicate with each other. It is about creating an
understanding between a group of people and we often use words to share various information,
knowledge and to socialize with each. It is a definition of our existence, a piece that represents
our culture and history as well an easy way to learn different things.

d. Discuss the different design features of language.

The features of language is composed of the quintessential characteristics of the human

language and they are arbitrary, duality, creativity, displacement and cultural transmission.

To begin with is arbitrary which refers to the forms of linguistics that does not have any
connection or natural relationship to their meaning. Next is duality which has two levels of
structures and they are sound, a basic level and meaning which is in a higher level. Bringing
together sounds create meaningful units which is words and as per the secondary unit are
meaningless while the primary units have identifiable meaning. Third is creativity which speaks
about how unique a language is for it is innovative creating new words with new meaning just
like jargons between group of friends. Displacement is about the distinct properties of human
languages. Example to that is a conversation about things other than the events of here and now.
And lastly the cultural transmissions is how language is being taught to the next generation.

e. What makes language creative?

A language is creative for it is able to create a group of words which can be understood
by others even though it is not familiar and does not resemble other words. . Language’s
creativity is seen on how the speaker can produce new sentences in just a short moment.
With that in mind it is unique for its infinite ways of expressing a man emotions, ideas or
how they were able to share information with the use of language that is constantly changing

2. Portfolio
Gather definitions of language from book authors and other professionals and make a portfolio
out of it. You are advised to present at least (10) sources except for the definitions and
individuals presented in this module. More instructions will be posted in our group chat
including the PowerPoint presentation of Module 1.

Definitions of language

“A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group

cooperates.” 
- American linguists Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager 

 “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words
are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.”
-Henry Sweet, an English phonetician and language scholar

Speech is the representation of the experience of the mind.

-Aristotle

Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and
desires through a system of voluntarily produced sounds.
-Sapir

The totality of the utterances that can be made in a speech community is the language of that
speech community.
-Bloomfield

 The language is the inherent capability of the native speakers to understand and form
grammatical sentences. A language is a set of (finite or infinite) sentences, each finite length and
constructed out of a finite set of elements.
-Noam Chomsky
Languages are the principal systems of communication used by particular groups of human
beings within the particular society of which they are members.
-Lyons

 Language is that human expression that is produced by different speech organs of human beings.
-Patanjali
The language is undoubtedly a kind of means of communication among human beings. It
consists primarily of vocal sounds. It is articulatory, systematic, symbolic and arbitrary.
-Derbyshire
Language is a system of conventional or written symbols through which human beings as
members of social groups and participants in its culture, communicate.
-Encyclopedia Britannica