4-3-2-1 Activity

• Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems
of communication, and a language is any specific example of such a
system. The scientific study of language is called linguistics.
• Estimates of the number of languages in the world vary between 6,000 and
7,000. However, any precise estimate depends on a partly arbitrary
distinction between languages and dialects. Natural
languages are spoken or signed, but any language can be encoded into
secondary media using auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli, for example, in
graphic writing, braille, or whistling. This is because human language
is modality-independent. When used as a general concept, "language" may
refer to the cognitive ability to learn and use systems of complex
communication, or to describe the set of rules that makes up these
systems, or the set of utterances that can be produced from those rules. All
languages rely on the process of semiosis to relate signs with particular
meanings. Oral and sign languages contain a phonological system that
governs how symbols are used to form sequences known as words
or morphemes, and a syntactic system that governs how words
and morphemes are combined to form phrases and utterances.
What is
language?

Linguistics
February 2nd 2018
Licda. Milvia Rosales
 Dictionary definition
• It is a system for the expression of thoughts,
feelings etc. by the use of spoken sounds or
conventional symbols.

• The faculty for the use of such systems, a

distinguishing characteristic of humans as
compared with other animals.

• The language of a particular nation or people.

• Language is the human capacity for
acquiring and using complex systems
of communication, and a language is any
specific example of such a system.

• The English word "language" derives

ultimately from Indo-
European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s "tongue, speech,
language" through Latin lingua, "language;
tongue", and Old French langage "language"
• Language is a unique and organic
communication system. It is unique
because it is only humans who possess it.
• It is organic because it grows and changes
all the time, just like a plant or any organism.

• It is unique because of its close relationship

with the human mind, the brain and society.
 Five functions of language
• Social interaction: It is a way of easing relationships
with others; to help build bridges between people. For
example use of slang amongst members of a
particular social group.

• Expression of identity

• Emotional expression: To explore how we feel about

ourselves and the world.

• Recording of facts: Information stored for future use;

to organize facts and data; to teach and learn.

• Naming the world.

 What is Lingua Franca?
• A language used for communication among people of
different mother tongues: English is the lingua franca
for many business people in many countries.

• The use of lingua francas may be almost as old as

language itself. Certainly they have existed since
antiquity.
• Latin and Greek were the lingua francas of the
Roman empire; and then Aramaic, remained the
common languages of a large part of Western Asia
through several earlier empires. The most obvious
example today is English.
 Difference between human and
animal language
• Human language is unique in comparison to
other forms of communication, such as those
used by non-human animals. Communication
systems used by other animals such as bees or
non-human apes are closed systems that consist
of a closed number of possible things that can be
expressed.

• In contrast, human language is open-ended

and productive, meaning that it allows humans to
produce an infinite set of utterances from a finite
set of elements and to create new words and
sentences.
 Similarities of Human and Animal
Language
• They can be find in the definition of the
word communication.

• Communication includes the use of both

signals and symbols. (signals are noises
or gestures that have a clear meaning).

• For example: Animal and baby cries or

laughing are a good example of signals
in both humans and animals.
• com·mu·ni·ca·tion noun \kə-ˌmyü-nə-
ˈkā-shən\: the act or process of using
words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to
express or exchange information or to
express your ideas, thoughts, feelings,
etc., to someone else

merriam-webster dictionary.
How can communication be possible?

• This is possible because human

language is based on a dual code,
where a finite number of
meaningless elements (e.g.
sounds, letters or gestures) can be
combined to form units of meaning
(words and sentences).
Comunication

FEATURES ANIMAL HUMAN

Uses signals  

Uses symbols X 

Has duality of X 
pattern
 Different types of languages:
• Isolating languages (analytical/root languages)
Chinese.

• Agglutinating languages, examples: Uralic languages,

Turkish, Japanese, Swahili, Etruscan.

• Inflecting languages: Indo-European, Latin, Arabic

(Semitic) languages

• Polysynthetic or incorporating languages: Indian

languages and Australian languages

• Analytic languages: the development of the Latin

language as inflecting to its daughter languages.
Features of communication

• Channel: the messages are primarily

transmitted via the vocal-auditory channel.

• Linearity: the message is extended

temporally (speech) and locally as a string
(writing) and is produced and analyzed as
a sequence.

• Redundancy: the same information may

be given several times.
 Body language
• Body language is a form of mental and
physical ability of human non-verbal
communication, consisting of body posture,
gestures, facial expressions, and eye
movements. Humans send and interpret such
signals almost entirely subconsciously.

• It may provide clues as to the attitude or state

of mind of a person. For example, it may
indicate aggression, attentiveness, boredom,
relaxed state, pleasure, amusement, and
intoxication.
Parts of the body used
• Eyes

• Hands

• Legs and Feet

 Eyes
• Looking right: Indicates the person is creating,
fabricating, lying.
• Looking left: the person is recalling facts, remembering.
• Direct eye contact: this can be an indication of honesty.
• Widening eyes: This indicates appeal, interest and
invitation. Interest in someone or something you look at.
• Rubbing eyes: Can be associated with disbelief about
something. Or a person may be tired or bored.
• Pupils dilated: when someone sees something that is
appealing to them or attractive.
• Blinking: frequent blinking it is a sign of excitement or
pressure.
 Arms
• Arms can indicate many things to a person, when they are
across the body it can be a defensive barrier and when
they are by your side it can mean you feel open and
secure.

• Crossed arms: Usually associated with protective

barrier. This could be boredom or feeling threatened.

• Gripping own upper arms: This can be seen as

insecurity in some males and females. It is a way of self
hugging, and attempt to reassure one self.

• Arms held behind body with hands clasped: This is a

signal of authority or confidence.
 Legs and feet
• Uncrossed legs, sitting-general: When legs
are uncrossed that generally means they have
an open attitude no matter if it is male or
female.
• Parallel legs: Legs together generally mean
properness when it is concerning a female, this
is a very unusual stance in males.

• Shoe-play: Usually seen in females, this can

mean relaxation or flirting.
What is linguistics?

• The scientific study of language is

called linguistics.

• It is also the study of the way language

is used in everyday life, the way it is
employed.
Branches of Linguistics
• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Morphology
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• Sociolinguistics
• Psycholinguistics.
 Curious Facts about the language
• The most spoken language in the word is the
Chinese (Mandarin) language it has
1,075,000,000 speaker. English is second with
514,000,000.

• How are the world's languages organized?

They can be organized alphabetically,
genetically, and geographically.

• How many languages exists?

At the present time, there are about five
thousand languages and dialects spoken in
the world. 850 are practiced in India.
• What are the top language to speak in the business
world?
Mandarin, English, Japanese, German and Spanish.

• What are the 3 top dead languages?

Latin, ancient Greek,+ Sanskrit, are studied by large
numbers of people because of their literary or historical
importance.
• How many countries have Spanish as the official
language?
21 countries where Spanish is an official
language, with the biggest being Mexico
Answer the following questions:
1- Is the human capacity for acquiring and
using complex systems of communication,
and any specific example of such a system?

Possible answers:

Phonetics Linguistics Language

• Lingua Franca is a language used for
communication among people of different
mother tongues.

TRUE FALSE
• Name the five functions of language :

1- Social interaction
2- Expression of identity
3- Emotional expression
4- Recording of facts
5- Naming the world
 What are the differences between human
and animal languages?

• Animals uses symbols to communicate 

• Animals use sygnals to communicate 
• Humans use symbols to communicate 
• Human language has duality of pattern 
• Humans have a limited number of utterances 
E-graphy
• http://www.u5d.net/Linguistics/8-types-of-languages.html.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language
• http://www.tu-
chemnitz.de/phil/english/chairs/linguist/independent/kursm
aterialien/introling/introling-complete.pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language
• http://www.chacha.com/question/how-many-countries-
have-spanish-as-the-official-language%3F-how-many-
countries-have-spanish-as-the-official-language
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language
• http://www.wikihow.com/Read-Body-Language