LANGUAGE

MEANING AND FEATURES

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• Speech is the representation of the experience of

the mind. – Aristotle
• Language is purely human and non-instinctive
method of communicating ideas, emotions and
desires by means of a system of voluntarily
produced symbols – E. Sapir
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• Language is the expression of ideas by means of

speech sounds combined into words. – Henry
Sweet
• A language is a system of arbitrary vocal
symbols, by means of which a social group co-
operates. – Bloch and Trager
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• The totality of the utterances that can be made in

a speech community is the language of that
speech community. - Bloomfield
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• Language is human … a verbal systematic

symbolism … a means of transmitting
information … a form of social behaviour …
(with a) high degree of convention. – J.
Whatmough
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• A language (is a) symbol system … based on pure

or arbitrary convention … infinitely extendable
and modifiable according to the changing needs
and conditions of the speakers. – R.H. Robins
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• Human languages are unlimited … an unlimited

set of discrete signals … have great structural
complexity … structure on at least two levels …
are open-ended … allow for the transmission of
information. – R.W. Langacker
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• When we study human language, we are

approaching what some might call ‘human
essence’, the distinctive qualities of mind that are,
so far as we know, unique to man. – Noam
Chomsky
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• Language is learned — The learning process may be natural or

structured.
• Language is a system—The complexity of the various facets of
it are organically inter-related, such as, sounds, words and
structures in integrated with one another and constitute the
complex and organic whole which is called language.
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• Language is a system of symbols —Its effectiveness

consists in its usage when the symbols are commonly
shared and known to all those who are sharing a
common experience.
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• The system is arbitrary—There is no logical relation between

the words and the objects they stand for except for the Chinese
and the other pictorial languages. Here again, the characters,
though pictorial, do have any resemblance with the reality that
they stand for. However, in sound languages, it is necessary that
the sounds have a specific meaning
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• Language symbols are vocal—Language is primarily

speech-Oriented. Its graphical representation comes later.
In many languages there is no graphical expression at all.
They are only spoken and are considered adequate as they
perform the basic function of communication.
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• Language is relevant in a social setting and has meaning in as

far as it expresses common cultural experiences. Languages,
therefore, differ because cultures differ.
MOST OF THESE STATEMENTS AGREE ON A
NUMBER OF FEATURES

• Language changes - "We live in a changing world. We cant

possibly think in terms of static state of affairs in language or
any thing else." - Jawaharlal Nehru
• Every language, may be English is a living language. With the
needs and requirements of speakers it changes constantly and
developing. Words are practically being borrowed and absorbed
in the language from time to time.
TO PUT INTO BRIEF

• Language is a means of communication and self-

expression.
• Language is arbitrary.
• Language is non-instinctive.
Cont.
TO PUT INTO BRIEF

Contd.
• Language is symbolic.
• Language is vocal.
• Language is a form of social behaviour.
TO PUT INTO BRIEF

Contd.
• Language is human.
• Language is open-ended, extendable and
modifiable.
• Language is structurally complex.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• Is it possible to think without language?

State the reasons for your answer.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• Knowledge, plans, discoveries and findings

are all abstract ideas. How can these ideas be
preserved and further transferred to the next
generation?
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• Man (Human being) – language = primitive

man
How far do you agree with the given
proposition?
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• Had there been no language, there would not

have been a society.
Do you agree with it?
If yes, why? If not, why?
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

• The content of every culture is expressible in its

language.
Discuss.