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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.