LESSON 1

LANGUAGE AND ITS FUNCTIONS

OBJECTIVES
• To define language and explain its functions
• To understand correct reasoning, truth, and falsity

INTRODUCTION
Language is man's greatest invention. Without language, practically other human inventions would not have been
possible. Through language man has been able to preserve his scientific discoveries and technological inventions. For it is
through language that our ancestors have transmitted their culture to us even as we now are passing on our existing
intellectual development to the future generations.

Language follows from man's inherent rationality. In fact, language is the verbal form of our thoughts, and as such
it is our vehicle or tool of communication. Man can communicate with others because of language. Language then may be
defined as a set of symbols by which things, ideas, and thoughts or feelings are communicated to others.

General Features of Language

There are two features of human language: spoken and written. Spoken language makes use of sound patterns, while written
language makes use of visual (physical) patterns. Different societies and men use different sound and visual patterns which
consequently have given rise to the formation of many languages all over the world.

For instance, love /"lǝv/ for the English-speaking people is the accepted sound pattern for a certain kind of human
feeling and should be written 1-o-pe as the accepted visual pattern. For the Filipin the accepted sound pattern for the same
kind of emotion is pag-ibig, and it should be written or spelled p-a-g-i-b-i-g as the visual pattern. A sound pattern, therefore,
is the linguistically accepted sound whereby an idea, feeling, or thought can be verbalized. It is the word or term that
embodies an idea or thought. A visual pattern, on the other hand, is the linguistically accepted way of writing a word or
term. Different sound and visual patterns distinguish one language from another, for just as there are so many sound and
visual patterns so are there so many languages.

General Characteristics of Language

In every language there are always four elements involved: (1) symbol, (2) referent, (3) reference, and (4) subject. A symbol
is a word, name, or phrase that is used to signify something. The word table is used to denote a certain kind of furniture.
That which is symbolized or denoted is called the referent. In this case, the referent is the object table itself. Reference is
the meaning or signification existing between the symbol and the referent. It is what one understands by the symbol or word
table. The subject refers to the individual who uses the symbol for whom a certain word or symbol means this particular
thing. In the Filipino language, the subject is the Filipino-speaking person.

Inasmuch as language is a human invention, it follows that symbols and words are conventional. They are arbitrary
or manmade. They have been the result of common usage and social agreement. People have invented or coined the words
carabao, kaluluwa, Diyos, tiyanak, bahay, etc. Thus, there is no necessary or natural connection between symbols (words)
and their referents. That a particular animal is named cat is just the outcome of common usage in English, while the same
quadruped is called pusa in Filipino.

Furthermore, the mere presence or existence of a particular symbol or word does not necessarily guarantee the
actual existence of its referent. One may not argue that since the word God exists, there must be God. Since there is a term
sirena, it follows that a sirena actually exists. God and sirena are but conventional symbols invented by man. Similarly, men
have coined the word aswang or bathala. Their mere presence in any language should not be used to prove their actual
existence.
Three Sciences of Language

Pragmatics is a linguistic science which deals with the origin, derivation, and root word of symbols or terms. For instance,
the word philosophy comes from the two Greek words philos and sophia which mean 'love' and 'wisdom', respectively.
Hence, etymologically, philosophy means love of wisdom'. Democracy comes from the Greek words demos and kratus
which respectively mean people' and 'power. Thus, democracy means 'people's power.

Another linguistic convention is semantics which treats of the formal relations between symbols and their meanings.
This is sometimes called the science of meanings. Semantics studies the conventional meanings of words or terms. The third
science of language is syntactics which deals with the formal relations between symbols as specified in the rules of grammar.
This is also called the science of grammar.

In this course you shall touch on these linguistic conventions in the study of terms, definition, and proposition.

Functions of Language

Language is used for many reasons, aims, or purposes, hence the different functions of language:
1. Informative function is one in which language is used to convey some information. It usually takes the form of
declarative statements. An example is Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983.

All scientific statements have an informative function.

2. Practical function is one in which language is used to produce some effects. This is also called the dynamic
function of language. It usually takes the form of imperative statements, like orders, appeals, pleas, requests,
commands. One example is Please open the door for me.

3. Expressive function is one in which language is used not only to express certain feelings of the speaker (writer)
but also to evoke some emotional response from the listener (reader). It usually takes the form of exclamatory
statements, e.g., Oh, the house is burning! It also assumes the forms of jokes, jests, puns, humor, or lyric poems.
An example of an expressive function of language:

Philosophy is the only subject in college that is neither obscene nor pornographic. It is neither topless nor
bottomless. Why? For in philosophy we do not only have Brahmanism, we also have Pantheism.

4. Performative function is one in which language is used not only to say or report something but also to perform
what is being said. Not only does one say something but he also performs what he says. An example is when one
says to his sweetheart "I love you very much," and then seals it with a kiss and a warm embrace. Another example
is when the priest says "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,"
simultaneously pouring water on the child's forehead

5. Ceremonial function is one in which language is used to enhance social intercourse, relationships, or social
amenities One uses language to enrich social encounters. For instance, "Good morning" "How are you?", "I would
like you to meet my one and only wife", "Nice meeting you" are examples of social utterances. Shaking hands is
another form of ceremonial function.

6. Logical function is one in which language is used to reason, analyze, and clarify a problem or an argument. One
may use language to prove or disprove the truth of some statements or theories. This is the function of logical
reasoning. It is the very subject matter of logic (which will be discussed at length in lesson 2). For example, if a
person is in one place, he cannot be in another place at the same time. Inasmuch as the President of the United States
is in Washington, he cannot be in the Philippines simultaneously.

7. Complex function (also known as multiple) is the combination or mixture of two or more functions of language.
Political campaign speeches usually involve an admixture of purposes. They are informative, practical, expressive,
 and logical. For example, when your host, after entertaining you for several hours, asks "What time is it now?", it
is clear that he already wants you to leave. The question implies informative and practical, or even expressive,
functions as when one says "Oh, no, it's alreatly twelve midnight!"

SUGGESTED READINGS

1. Irving M. Copi, Introduction to Logic. Revised ed. (New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1978), 55-85.
2. Andrew H. Bachhuber, Introduction to Logic (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1957), 221-229.

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