Defining Defining LanguageLanguage

Dictionary DefinitionsDictionary Definitions

a) A system of communication with its own set of conventions or special words;

b) Speech peculiar to an ethnic, national or cultural group;

c) By extension, the articulate or inarticulate expression of thought and feeling by living creatures.

•Language is COMPLEX!

•Language is separate from all other forms of

communication.

•Language is what makes humans, human.

The extended definition

(c) the articulate or inarticulate expression of thought and feeling by living creatures

is widely regarded as a far stretch of the concept of language and is a source of

controversy amoung linguists

Characteristics of Characteristics of LanguageLanguageLanguage is:

Language as HUMANLanguage as HUMAN

• The parrot can be taught to reproduce sound sequences.

• It cannot be taught to formulate sentences on its own.

• Animals use sound and movement to initiate mating but cannot convey how it feels about the shortage of food supplies.

Language as SystematicLanguage as Systematic

It uses various systems:

◦Sound◦Grammar

SOUNDSOUNDSound is a system that each language has

patterns for that are recognizable to its speakers.

Do you recognize any of these words?◦ Cinquo◦ Briskve◦ Merci◦ Gracias◦ Froid

Sounds take on meaning in a language only when they are combined in certain ways that are recognizable to the speakers.

GRAMMARGRAMMARThis is the set of rules that govern how the words

of the language are put together to make meaning.

“Often to goes he the market”Would not qualify as an English sentence

However :“He often goes to the market.”

Would be accepted as it is now placed in the correct order.

GRAMMARGRAMMARWord order is critical to meaning.

Consider the way in which a simple sentence can acquire different meanings depending on the word order.

You are there.

There you are!

Are you there?

Activity: Choose the appropriate words to replace

the word ‘goes’ in the sentence

“He often goes to the market.”

car, of, runs, circular, bright, pencils, there, but, rides

You should notice that only a verb would be suitable in that word position.

Apart from having to use a particular type of word, in this case a verb, grammatical rules are even more specific and the space cannot be

filled by just any verb.

Activity:Which of the following verbs would

fit the sentence?

“He often ________ to the market.”

shuffles, kisses, jumps, dances, sits, cries, eats, sings, flies, hears

Each language has its own set of rules, which must be employed for the effective transfer of meaning.

Language as SYMBOLICLanguage as SYMBOLICIt uses words as representations

or symbols of ideas.

In order for language to make sense there must be commonly understood or accepted meanings attributed to its symbols.

Consider the following words. What do they symbolize? Do you think all English speakers mean the same thing when they say those words?

Sorrow anger disgust strength

pride loveembarrassment

Dictionaries are records of the symbolic meaning of words in a language.

Language as Language as EVOLUTIONARYEVOLUTIONARYLanguage changes over time.

The invention of new words takes place over time.

Can you think of any words that was recently added to the English dictionary?

Activity 3: Home Assignment

Try to find out when the following words became part of the English language:◦Computer◦Nuclear◦Aeroplane◦Television◦Atom◦genetics

Changes in meaning are another way in which language evolves.

These changes occur when a significant group of persons persistently use a word (symbol) to mean something other than its traditionally accepted definition.

Changes in meaningChanges in meaningWORD OLDER MEANING MODERN

MEANING

Gay Carefree, happy Homosexual

Nice Stupid, foolish Pleasant, agreeable

Girl Any young person Female young person

Manufacture Make by hand Produce artificially by hand of machinery

Tell Count Say, inform

Meat Any food Food from animal flesh

Discuss with your classmates some words that you think are in the

process of evolution or which have recently acquired new meanings. What

may account for the changes?

SUMMARYSUMMARYLanguage is a system of

communication with its own set of conventions or special words.

Characteristics of language:◦Human◦Systematic◦Symbolic◦Evolutionary

Recap QuizRecap Quiz1. Define language.

2. What is unique about language?

3. How is language systematic?

4. Why is word order critical to meaning in language?

5. What type of symbol is used for the English language?

6. Explain why a word of your choice has evolved through time.