The document critiques Edward Sapir's definition of language by arguing that language is not purely human, as animals also communicate symbolically through sounds, smells, gestures, and more. It also analyzes whether language is instinctive or learned, presenting arguments on both sides by citing scholars like Chomsky, Darwin, and Sampson. Ultimately, the document concludes that Sapir was incorrect to say language is purely human, and that the nature vs nurture debate around language being instinctive or learned remains unresolved.

1. Assignment of Theories of Language Description
Title
A Critique onthe Definitionof Language by Edward Sapir
Submittedto:
Mr. Waseem
Submittedby:
Ali FurqanSyed
Class:
MPhil (1st
semester)
LAHORE INSTITUTE FOR FUTURE EDUCATION LAHORE

2. Critique
When we read Sapir’s definition between the lines, two questions arises mainly. First, if
language is a method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of
voluntarily produced symbols, how it can be purely human ? Simply, the answer is not
because human beings as well as other species communicate symbolically. Second, is
language non instinctive or not ?
Firstly, we illuminate the idea: language either purely human or not ? Language, a
method of communication, is not unique to human beings. Other animal species
communicate in variety of ways. Animals might not be able to speak or master
advanced language techniques, but certainly have communicating capability. Animals
often rely on verbal and non verbal forms and so human beings, such as by sounds,
odor, body language etc. e.g. a bird may call that a territory is his and no one can
invade. Sound is also considered a primary source of communication.
Another means of communication is by odor. Many animals and human beings as well
communicate by odor. They release pheromones (a chemical substance produced and
released by an animal, affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species) to send
messages to others. These chemical play an important role reproduction and other social
behavior e.g. ants uses chemical cues to help or guide their foraging adventures, as well
as for other activities like telling friend to foe etc.
Third means of communication is body language. Most animals (including human beings)
use body movements as well as sound and smell in order to communicate with one
another. Here are some general ways, which animals and human beings use, of
expressing themselves through body movements. Bees dance when they have found
nectar. The scout bee will dance in the hive, and direct other bees to the location of
the nectar. Fireflies glow to attract mates. Cats rub against objects to mark them with
their scent for future assistance. Male whales use songs to communicate with fee males.
Animals as well as human beings communicate their own kind or other species for food,
attract mates, and bring up young, escape from danger.
When we say language is symbolic, it means language exists in animals as well so it is
not purely human. Human beings and animals communicate one another symbolically
through gestures, facial expression, color change and touch too. Language is a kind of
communication in which we send a message from source to the destination through
different ways.
First, we take gestures to elaborate. When we make circle of his hand, have different
meanings e.g. in UK it means OKAY, in RUSSIA it means ZERO, but in JAPAN it means

3. an ABUSE. There is another interesting example to strengthen the concept of gestures
is that a traffic warden waves his hand with five fingers, and we generally take a
meaning; STOP but in an African tribe it means something abusing; you have five
fathers (BASTARD).
Second, facial expressions also belong to animal species as well as human beings. These
reveal emotions such as happiness (through smile) and sadness (through mouth
trembling and tears). Nose and cheek bulge in animals and human beings shows pain
and in fear a dog changes the direction of his ears and pull back his eyes.
Third, color change, in human beings and animals, has its own importance and it
happens when social factors or psychological factors involve in an activity e.g. red color
symbolizes anger and yellow identifies fear.
Fourthly, touch can be an important factor in social interactions in animal species and
human beings e.g. in fights, touch can be used to challenge an opponent or coordinate
movements and in mating contexts It will increase interaction escalates.
Now, I put forward the question: is language non- instinctive or not ? On the one hand,
those who believe that language is instinctive expresses that language is not learned and
does not depend on having had best education. Chomsky strengthens the argument by
stating that language is not learned therefore it is doubtful that language is obtained
through a method which consists of learning only. He considered that a significant part
of language is innate e.g. if a newborn English baby grows up in China by Chinese
speaking adoptive parents, he will fluent in Chinese rather than speaking English.
Darwin also supports the theory that language is “instinctive”. He focuses that language
ability is ‘an instinctive tendency to acquire an art’ that is not peculiar to humans but
seen in other species such a song-learning birds.
On the other hand Sampson has found the idea that children are born with blank slates
and it is observed that they develop their linguistic ability by observation and imitation
of parents and those who belong to their surroundings. To justify his argument he says:
“Eve was not a born know-well. She was ignorant. But she was good learner”.
Since language is symbolic, it is also debatable that symbols have to be learned and are
not instinctive. It is the cultural tradition which gives meaning to various sounds and
gestures that are innate ability of human beings and animal species e.g. it has been
observed that monkeys in the wild consider at least three alarm calls symbolically for
different predators – eagles, pythons and leopards- monkeys react differently to each
call. Interestingly infant vervets often make the ‘eagle’ warning call when they see any

4. flying bird and learn the appropriate call as they grow up. This is similar to human
‘infants’ who often first apply the ‘dada’. So it can be considered that all such calls as
symbolic.
So, it can be concluded that language is not ‘purely human’ as Edward Sapir has said,
because it also relates to other animal species and language is neither ‘instinctive’ nor
‘non-instinctive’ the story goes from instinctive to non- instinctive.