NATURE OF LANGUAGE Flashcards
It encompasses its fundamental characteristics, functions, and properties as a complex system of communication.
NATURE OF LANGUAGE
Language uses arbitrary symbols (such as words, sounds, and gestures) to represent objects, concepts, actions, and ideas. The relationship between linguistic symbols and their referents is conventional and culturally determined, allowing for the transmission of meaning through communication.
SYMBOLIC SYSTEM
Speakers can produce an infinite number of novel utterances by combining a finite set of linguistic elements (words, morphemes, and rules of grammar). This creativity allows for the expression of new ideas and the adaptation of language to changing contexts.
GENERATIVE AND PRODUCTION
Language exhibits a hierarchical structure and is governed by a set of rules and principles that determine how linguistic elements are organized and combined to form meaningful utterances. These rules include phonological rules (for sound patterns), syntactic rules (for sentence structure), morphological rules (for word formation), and semantic rules (for meaning).
Structured and Ruled governed
Primary function of language?
Communication
The primary function of language is communication, enabling individuals to convey thoughts, emotions, intentions, and information to others. Language serves various communicative purposes, including expressing ideas, requesting assistance, sharing experiences, persuading others, and building social relationships.
COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTION
Language is deeply embedded in social and cultural contexts, shaping and reflecting the norms, values, and practices of the communities in which it is used. Language use is influenced by social factors such as social status, age, gender, ethnicity, and group identity. Language also plays a central role in social interaction, identity construction, and the negotiation of social roles and relationships.
SOCIALLY EMBEDDED
Language is closely linked to cognitive and psychological processes, including perception, memory, attention, and reasoning. The ability to acquire, use, and understand language is a core aspect of human cognition, influencing thought processes and shaping mental representations of the world.
COGNITIVE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT
Language is dynamic and constantly evolving, undergoing changes over time in response to social, cultural, technological, and historical factors. Languages evolve through processes such as language contact, borrowing, innovation, and language shift. The ongoing evolution of language reflects its adaptive nature and its ability to meet the changing needs of its users.
DYNAMIC AND EVOLVING
While there are universal features shared by all human languages, such as the use of symbols and grammatical structure, languages also exhibit diversity in terms of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and usage. The world’s languages vary widely in their structures, sounds, and writing systems, reflecting the rich diversity of human cultures and societies.
UNIVERSAL AND DIVERSE
It refers to the process through which individuals acquire and learn a language, typically starting from infancy and continuing throughout childhood
LANGUAGE AQUISITION
It involves the ability to produce and express language in speech or writing.
LANGUAGE PRODUCTION
