Nature of language

1. What is Language?
Together with the creation of human life is the
creation of a wonderful and dynamic human
capacity – language
What exactly is language?
• It has a system of rules (grammar)
• It has a sound system (phonology)
• It has a vocabulary (lexicon)

2. When people use the same language, they
understand each other because they belong to the
same speech community. They can understand
each other because they share the same set of rules
in the language system.
Language acquisition – this is the process where
people acquire the languages used by those in the
community, while they grow up.
Mother tongue – this is the language acquired
while growing up, which may also referred to as
first language and other language may be referred
to as second language

3. Language learning – this is a process where
people learn languages by studying formally or
informally on their own.
Question to ponder:
What happens if, you, who speaks a mother
tongue and English, go to work in China where the
residents speak Mandarin and a little bit of English?
Will you be able to communicate with the Chinese?
The answer is YES!

4. Language contact – the result of each contact may
be a new form of language
Language change - the result of language contact
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.