Properties of language

While children are learning language they start to become aware of its

properties.

Language is arbitrary

1. A language has words that denote the concepts, objects, actions,

etc. that the speaker wishes to talk about. There is no logical

connection between the form of a word (sequence of sounds) and

its meaning. As a language develops, words are randomly

invented to identify an object, concept or action. The form and

meaning of a word are, in effect, simply agreed upon by users of a

language. There are no rules that dictate the form that a word

should take.

2. Language has structure

Words are grouped or combined in an organised fashion. There are

rules to be followed in forming complete sentences and in the joining

together of these sentences to create conversation. Different languages

are structured according to their own rules. Effective communication

requires an ability to apply these rules. Language is generative

3.

Language has a range of grammatical patterns that can be used in

different combinations to produce new utterances. A speaker can

produce limitless types of utterances by combining already kLanguage

has the capacity for displacement

4. Language can be used to talk about things that cannot

immediately be seen, heard, felt or smelled—things not connected

to the immediate environment. It can be used to talk about

subjects, objects and events from the past or in the future, whether

real or imaginary.nown word and sentence elements.