THE

NATURE OF
LANGUAG
E
Laguna State Polytechnic University- Sta. Cruz
College of Engineering
First Semester A.Y. 2020-2021
Mrs. Joy Mell Juayong-Caldoza
 WEEK 1 │OCT. 12-17,
2020
This lesson will discuss the nature,
elements and functions of language.
This lesson will also provide activities
and exercises that will assist
students’ knowledge as they
determine the key ideas in language
and communication, and at same
time, be able to relate their personal
experiences with the input presented.
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 Learning Guide
Questions
1. What exactly is language?
2. Do animals communicate?
3. Do animals have language?

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1.
What is
Language?
 “ Knowledge of
languages is the
doorway to wisdom”
-Roger Bacon.

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 What is Language?
 Together with the creation of human
life is the creation of a wonderful
and dynamic human capacity ---
language.
 Animals are said to be able to
communicate with each other.
Whales sing, wolves howl, dogs
barks, and birds chirps. The sounds
these creatures produce often reflect
the state of their emotions.
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 What is Language?
 While it may be true that
animals communicate,
only human beings are
truly capable of producing
language. What exactly is
language?

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 What is Language?
 Linguists agree that a
language can only be
called a language if it has
a system of rules
(grammar), a sound
system (phonology), and
a vocabulary (lexicon).
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 What is Language?

 A language is a system
of arbitrary vocal
symbols used by
people for
communicating.

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  A bird may be able to signal to
its partner that it is sharing
food. The bird will produce
sounds and gestures, but will
not be able to organize the
sounds into a meaningful
system with rules. What the
monkey is producing is not a
language in the strictest sense
of the word.

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example
  Human beings, on the other
hand, are able to communicate
their desire to share food in
several ways that are
understandable to other human
beings. They may utter a word
(Food!), raise a question (Want
some food?), or give a statement
(I’d like to share this food with
you.).

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example
Linguistic
Elements of
Language
 Phonology
 The study of the patterns of
sounds in a language and
Place your screenshot here
across languages.
 The sound system of the
language

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 Morphology
 The study of words, how they
are formed, and their
relationship to other words in
Place your screenshot here the same language. It analyzes
the structure of words and
parts of words, such as stems,
root words, prefixes, and
suffixes.

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 Syntax
 The arrangement of words in
sentences, clauses, and
phrases
Place your screenshot here

 the study of the formation of

sentences and the
relationship of their
component parts.

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 Semantics
Place your screenshot here  The study of meanings in a
language

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 Pragmatics
 The appropriate use of
language in different
Place your screenshot here contexts

 The study of the intended

meaning of the speaker

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 Lexicon
 The complete set of
meaningful units in a
language
Place your screenshot here

 The vocabulary of a person,

language, or a branch of
knowledge (e.g. Medical
Terms, Computer Terms)

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2.
Process of
Language
Acquisition
 Speech Community
 When people use language, they
can understand each other
because they belong to the same
speech community. They can
understand each other because
in their speech community,
people share the same set of
rules in the language system.
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 Language Acquisition
 While growing up, people
acquire the languages used
by those in the community.
This is the process of
language acquisition.

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 Mother Tongue
 The language
acquired while
growing up is
known as mother
tongue, which may
also be referred to
as first language.
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3.
Process of
Language
Learning
  People discover later on
that other languages are
needed for various
reasons. These other
languages may be
referred to as second
languages.
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  People learn these
languages by studying
formally in school or
informally on their own.
This is the process of
language learning.

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 What happens when people encounter people coming from
different speech community?

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 Will you be able to communicate with persons who belong to a
different speech community?

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 YES!
 Though it will be a
challenge for you and your
Chinese friends to try to
understand each other,
eventually you will be able to
communicate as you slowly
learn each other’s languages.
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 Language Contact

 What happening here is

called language contact.
The result of such contact
may be a new form of
language.

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 Language Contact
 It is possible that in your
attempt to communicate with
each other, you and your
Chinese friend will produce
new language form that is
understandable to both of
you.
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 Language Language
Contact Change

 Your own languages may also

change as you constantly
interact and communicate with
each other. Thus, language
change is the result of language
contact.

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  Language is indeed a
complex human capacity. It is,
therefore, important to be
aware of its features and
behavior to be able to use
language more effectively and
productively in
communicating with others.

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 Thanks!
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at
▸ jjoymell@gmail.com
▸ Joy Mell Juayong Caldoza
▸ @yupireads

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