This document discusses the definition, importance, and characteristics of language. It defines language as a system of codes used to communicate ideas through words and sounds. The document notes that language is important for communication and shapes identity. It explores whether communication can occur without language, through nonverbal means. The key characteristics of language covered are that it is artificial, restricted, abstract, arbitrary, creative, redundant, and recursive.

1. • Definition of language
• Importance of language
• Can we communicate without language?
• Characteristics/ features of language

2. Definition
 It is a system of codes
 Signifier and signified
 System of words and
sounds to communicate
ideas in a meaningful
way

3. Importance of language
 Language arose out of
the human need to
communicate
 All languages are of
equal importance
 Language shapes our
identity
 We are what we speak !

4. Can we communicate without
language?
 Verbal
 Non Verbal
 Paralanguage
 Thought
 Culture
 Animal Communication

5. Characteristics/ features of
language
 Artificial
 Restricted
 Abstract
 Arbitrary
 Creative
 Redundant
 Recursive

6. Artificial
 Created by people
 It does not exist in isolation
or outside the minds of
people
 symbol is attached to a
thought or thing, called a
referent
 Take the word COVID 19,
AIDS which did not exist
until people were infected by
these
 Humans attach meanings to
words according to needs

7. Language is restricted
 We think and translate
our thoughts into
language, some meaning
is lost in the process
 No symbol or word can
transmit our exact
perception
 At times we may not find
words to express our
feelings
 It has limitations

8. Language is abstract
• To be abstract is to
generalize, and to
generalize is to leave out
many details.
• A word could represent
different ideas at
different times
• For example, ‘dress’ can
represent anything from
a frock to a sari

9. Language is arbitrary
 There is no direct
relationship between a
word and the idea or
object it represents
 Language has evolved as
a cultural system of
agreements in which
words represent certain
symbols, thoughts
 Learning these
agreements is part of
learning a particular
language.
 language keeps changing
to include new concepts,
and words can assume a
number of specific and
arbitrary meanings

10. Language is creative
 Language is indeed
creative, and its ability to
generate so many words
every day is a marvel
 Many words are added to
the dictionary
 Borrowing – taking over
words from other
languages such as
‘alcohol’ from Arabic and
‘boss’ from Dutch
 Blending: Edutainment
= education +
entertainment
 Clipping: ad=
advertisement
 Acronyms: IAS= Indian
Administrative Services

11. Language is redundant
 The capacity for
redundancy or repetition
 This may either improve
or impede effective
communication
 For example: A couple of
girls are riding their
bicycles.

12. Language is recursive
 Characteristic of language
which enables one to
generate any number of
sentences using the same
basic grammatical
templates
 It also allows one to express
any idea, thought, or
feeling with immense
freedom. It implies that
there is no limit to the
potential length of a
sentence

13. Thank You Everyone