2. What is Language?
Edward Sapir:
“Language is not only a vehicle for the expression
of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments, and values
characteristic of a community; it also represents a
fundamental expression of social identity.”
Benjamin Whorf:
“Language shapes thoughts and emotions,
determining one’s perception of reality.”
3. Do you think that human language
is learned or inherited?
4. Human Language
Human language is unique because
it is a symbolic communication
system that is learned instead of
biologically inherited.
5. Importance of Language
Language is a tool to
learn knowledge
transmit information
express feelings, emotions and
ideas
forge cultural ties
construct social identity
6. English Language
Lingua Franca ---- Language of mutual
communication
English is the required international language of
communication, science, information technology,
business, seafaring, aviation, entertainment,
radio and diplomacy.
7. How was the English language
spread beyond the British Isles?
8. Spread of English
Colonization------ 16th to 19th centuries
Dominant language in the United States,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The growing economic and cultural influence of
the US and its status as a global superpower
since World War II have significantly accelerated
the language's spread across the planet
9. Importance of English
Official language of 53 countries
One of six official languages of the United
Nations
Spoken by more than 300 million native
speakers, and between 400 and 800 million
foreign users
10. Working knowledge of English-----requirement
in a number of fields
Bridge to communicate with people from other
parts of the world
English has replaced German as a dominant
language of science Nobel Prize laureates.
11. …………….Continued
Command over English can
create possibilities each day to connect with people
worldwide
help you get jobs easily
enable you to gain lots of knowledge by reading
newspapers, story books, essays, online sites and
journals and any of the greatest and famous writing
written in English by poets, authors or leaders.
English Literature---- Window to world literature
12. In short…….
The English language is one of the most important
tools available to us.
It is one of the international languages, a tool of
communication between countries, cultural groups,
various companies, organizations and communities.