ELE 3103

Language and Communication Definition of language -

9 January 2014

Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without concious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more general abilities to process information or behave intelligently. Standard definition: Language is a system of arbitrary conventionalized vocal written, or gestural symbols that enable members of a given community to communicate intelligably with each other. Other definition: o The creativity of language o The presumed primacy of speech

Other definition: o Language is... Systematic A set of arbitrary symbols Those symbols are primarily vocal, but may also be visual The symbols have conventionalized meanings to which they differ Used for communication Operates in a speech community or culture Essentially human, although possibly not limited to humans Acquired by all people in much the same way; language and language learning both have universal characteristics.

Possible areas: o Explicit and formal accounts of the system of language on several possible levels most commonly phonologycal

o ... o Phonetics; phonology; writing system... o .. o .. o Dialectology; sociolingustic.. o ... o ...

Human Language Distinction between one language and another; usually it may be through country boundaries, population culture, demographics and history.

Relationship between Language and Culture Language is used to maintain culture and convey it.