The document discusses the concept of language and its functions. It defines language and examines its key characteristics such as being social, symbolic, systematic, vocal, conventional, productive, and a means of communication. The document also explores several important functions of language, including communication, transmission of culture, thought, diffusion of knowledge, political cohesion, cultural identity, and facilitating human cooperation and society.
5. Before start…..
Benefits of the language across the curriculum for students as well as
teachers…
For students:
1. It helps learners to improve their communication
skills in other/Foreign language.
2. It helps students to learn the content more.
3. It helps learners to discuss different issues in
other/foreign language.
4. It opens a vast career world before the students.
5. It helps students getting admitted to foreign
universities.
For Teachers:
1. All teachers can improve their skills in a other
language.
2. It helps teachers to teach the content in a
other/foreign language.
3. It helps teachers to update their knowledge.
4. It helps teachers give clear instructions to students
in other/foriegn Language.
6. Unit 1: Language and its Function
a) Concept of language
b) Characteristics of Language
c) Functions of Language
7. a) Concept of language
Meaning:
Language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means
of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture,
express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of
identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
All human beings communicate by means of Language and the use of language is the basis
of all human activities including education.
The word ‘language’ is derived from the latin word ‘lingua’ which means ‘tongue.’
Thus, language relates to something that is spoken or for which the tongue is used.
8. Definitions of language
1) According to Edward Sapir (1921), “Language is a purely human and non-
instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of
voluntarily produced symboles.”
1) Bernald Bloch and Georg L. Trager (1942), “A language is a system of arbitrary
vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.”
9. 3) Noam Chomsky 1957 , “ Language to be a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each
finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.”
4) Fred C.C. Peng 2005, “Language is behaviour which utilizes body parts: the vocal
apparatus and the auditory system for oral language; the brachial apparatus and the
visual system for sign language. . . Such body parts are controlled by none other than the
brain for their functions.”
5) Wayne Weiten 2007, “A language consists of symbols that convey meaning, plus rules
for combining those symbols, that can be used to generate an infinite variety of
messages.”
10. Analyse the definitions and see whether you are able to answer
the following questions:
(i) What does language consist of?
(ii) What is language used for?
(iii) What is unique with languages?
(iv) Is language innate or imitative?
11. In short we can say;
1. Language is a system.
2. Language is a system of symbols.
3. Language is a system of vocal symbols.
4. Language is a system of vocal symbols which are
arbitrary.
5. Language is a system of vocal symbols, which are
arbitrary and through which the social group
cooperates.
15. Language is Social:
● Language is a set of conventional communicative
signals used by humans for communication in a
community.
● Language in this sense is a possession of a social group,
comprising an indispensable set of rules which permits
its members to relate to each other, to interact with
each other, to cooperate with each other; it is a social
institution.
● Language exists in society; it is a means of nourishing
and developing culture and establishing human
relations.
16. Language is Symbolic:
● Language consists of various sound symbols
and their graphological counterparts that are
employed to denote some objects,
occurrences or meaning.
● These symbols are arbitrarily chosen and
conventionally accepted and employed.
Words in a language are not mere signs or
figures, but symbols of meaning.
● The intelligibility of a language depends on a
correct interpretation of these symbols.
17. Language is Systematic
● Every language is a unique system which consists
of sound, structures and vocabulary.
● A person who wants to learn new language will
have to learn new sounds, new structures and new
vocabulary.
● The sound system of language to language
depending upon the specific use of vowels and
consonants that the society uses.
● Each language has its own systems of vocabulary.
18. Language is vocal and verbal sound
● Language is a systematic verbal symbolism;
● it makes use of verbal elements such as
sound,words,phrases,which are arranged in certain ways to make
sentences.
● Language is vocal in as much as it us made up of sounds which can
be produced by the organs of speech.
● Language is primarily made up of vocal sounds only produced by a
physiological articulatory mechanism in the human body.
● In the beginning, it appeared as vocal sounds only. Writing came
much later, as an intelligent attempt to represent vocal sounds.
● Writing is only the graphic representation of the sounds of the
language.
● So the linguists say that speech is primary.
19. Language is Conventional
● No language was created in a day out of a
mutually agreed upon formula by a group of
humans.
● Language is the outcome of evolution and
convention.
● Each generation transmits this convention on to
the next.
● Like all human institutions languages also change
and die, grow and expand.
● It is passed down one generation to the next.
20. Language is Productive and Creative
● Language has creativity and productivity.
● The structural elements of human language
can be combined to produce new utterances,
which neither the speaker nor his hearers
may ever have made or heard before any,
listener, yet which both sides understand
without difficulty.
● Language changes according to the needs of
society.
21. Language is a means of Communication
● The primary purpose of any language is
communication and self-expression.
● Human beings express their ideas, thoughts, feelings
and emotions through language.
● When you refer to language, it means the
communication system that depends on verbal and
non-verbal methods so information can be
transferred.
● Communication is the way two people or a group
exchange information or messages. ... Language
focuses on words, symbols or signs while
communication is centered on the message
22.
23. ❖ Few things in life have as many different uses as language.
❖ Consequently, an attempt at identifying the functions of language is an
oversimplification.
❖ However, we would attempt to identify some of these functions, with
the hope, that they would broaden our understanding of the complexity
of language.
❖ Of course, the functions would give us insight into nothing but the
purpose of language, what it does, and its uses.
❖ Definitely, this would be familiar ground to any reader because language
is a part of who we are- as humans.
The following are some of the functions:
24. 1. Means of Communication
Language, of course, is the major means by which humans communicate. We use it in passing
messages from one party to another. This is possible through both speech and writing.
2. Transmission of Culture
Language is the major vehicle for the transmission of culture from one generation to another. It
is through language that we learn the values and norms of our society. It is through language
that all the elements of culture are passed on to younger members of a society.
3. It is a means of thought
Basically all human thought is done within the scope of language. We do not seem to have the
ability to formulate our thought outside the scope of language. Therefore, it is a vehicle of human
thought.
25. 4. Diffusion of Knowledge
Knowledge is passed on through language. It is used for instruction both in formal and
informal educational situations. It is used in both schools and homes to spread knowledge.
5. A Cohesive Political Force
Language has always been used or relied upon as a cohesive political tool. This is why
some languages are sometimes promoted while some are discouraged. An example of this
was the prohibition of Basque during the Spanish civil war in the 1930's.
6. It Unites people
Language enable people to unite based on linguistic affiliations. We tend to naturally
associate with people who share a language with us.
26. 7. It is a means of cultural identity
This is closely related to how it unites people. Human cultural affiliations and identity has
always been inseparable from the use of a shared language or some linguistic
characteristics between members of a group. This is why people in sub-cultures such as
"Area Boys" could be found using language in a peculiar form from that of the larger
society.
8. Existence of society through cooperation
Human society basically exists because its members have language to facilitate their
cooperation. We use it in almost every type of relationship. We use it in the family, at
work, in the streets, etc. We use it to move the society forward.
27. 9. Therapeutic Function
Language is used to ease anxiety, tension, fear, worries and pain. A soothing
word goes a long way in making one feel better despite the intensity of a situation.
11. We use it in expressing our ideas
Language enables us to express our ideas, feelings and desires in such a way that is
easily understood by others. The characteristics of human language make it possible
for it to serve this purpose for whatever feelings, desires or ideas that are to be
communicated from one party to another.
28. Questions
Essay Questions:
1) ‘Language is set of human habits.’ Elaborate the given sentence with reference to
the meaning and characteristics of language.
2) Explain/Elucidate the meaning and characteristics of language.
3) Elucidate the functions of language.
Short Notes:
1) Concept of language
2) Any five characteristics of language
3) Any two functions of language
