What is Language?

Language is first and foremost the basic means of human communication. This aspect of
human behaviour is illustrated by the well-known definition put forward by the American
anthropolinguist, Edward Sapir (1884-1939):"Language is a purely human and non-
instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of a system of
voluntarily produced symbols" This definition focuses on a set of fundamental aspects of
language, namely:
o language is human-specific, i.e., it is used solely by human beings living within a
speech community. Animals do have a communication system but it is not a
developed system.
o language is not instinctive, I.e., it is normally acquired from infancy as a system of
arbitrary meaningful conventional symbols. Such symbols are primarily speech
sounds produced by the organs of speech and are complemented by secondary
symbols, mainly the writing system.
Other Linguistic Definitions of Language
Language has been defined differently by linguists according to the general framework of
their theory. For instance, the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) considers
language as a set of general patterns in the speech of a community (langue) and as the
speaking act of an individual in a particular situation (parole).
Likewise, the American linguist Noam Chomsky (1929-) views language as the innate
capability of native speakers to understand and produce an infinite number of correct
grammatical sentences (competence) and their actual realization in concrete situations
(performance)
Dictionary Definitions of Language:
Most dictionaries define language in its most general sense: a system of communication,
taking into accounts both the spoken and written forms.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines language as: "a system of
communication consisting of sounds, words, and grammar, or the system communication
used by people in a particular country or type of work".
In Oxford dictionary, it may refer to "the method of human communication, either spoken
or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way" or it may
mean "a system of communication used by particular country or community .
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines language as "the system of
communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country or
area.", "the use by humans of a system of sounds and words to communicate.", or "a way
of expressing ideas and feelings using movements, symbols and sounds".
Linguistic Definitions of Language
Language has been defined differently by linguists according to the general framework of
their theory. For instance, the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) considers
language as a set of general patterns in the speech of a community (langue) and as the
speaking act of an individual in a particular situation (parole).
Likewise, the American linguist Noam Chomsky (1929-) views language as the innate
capability of native speakers to understand and produce an infinite number of correct
grammatical sentences (competence) and their actual realization in concrete situations
(performance)
Features Common to all Languages
Throughout time and for several centuries, humans inquired about language. Some of these
inquiries were scientific and some were not. However, no reliable answer was provided,
because we cannot go so far into the history of humanity. Among the frequent asked
questions is about the features that all-natural human languages share. The American
linguist Charles Hockett has pointed out a number of such properties. Here are some of
them:
1. All languages have vowels and consonants;
2. All languages have words;
3. All languages can create new words when required and modify their meanings;
4. All languages are open-ended in the sense that they can produce totally new
utterances which are understood by the users of the language;
5. All languages can form questions.
 6. In all languages it is possible to talk about things and situations that are removed
from the immediate situation of the speaker (this is called displacement).
7. In all languages we can use hypothetical, unreal, and fictional utterances.
Universal Properties of Language
Human languages differ from animal languages in many ways. Some of the major features
of human languages are:
1. Displacement: a major difference between animal language and human language is
the displacement feature of human language. It means that human language can
overcome the limitations of time and space. Animal communication is designed for
here and now. But, human language can relate to events removed in time and
space.
2. Arbitrariness: major difference between animal language and human language is
the arbitrariness of human language. It means that human linguistic signs do not
have any natural connection between its form and meaning. The only exceptions
are the onomatopoeic sounds. In the animal communication, the signs they use are
synonymous with meaning.
Productivity: a major difference between animal language and human language is
the productivity of human language. This refers to the human ability to combine
limited linguistic signs to produce new sentences and expressions. Animals are
incapable of this as animal signals have fixed reference.
1. Cultural Transmission: a major difference between animal language and human
language is the cultural transmission of human language. While animals get their
language genetically, human beings acquire language. Human languages are
passed down by the society in which one lives and grows up.
2. Discreteness: a major difference between animal language and human language is
the discreteness of human language. This refers to the uniqueness of the sounds
used in human languages. Every language uses a set of different sounds. Each of
these sounds is different from the rest and is combined to form new meanings. A
sound can be repeated, or combined with another to form a new meaning. But
animal languages do not have this feature of discreteness.
Duality: This refers to the two systems of sound and meaning. Human language is
made up of two levels; the physical level (sounds in isolation, meaningless), and the
level at which those sounds are combined into meaningful morphemes or words.