This is about the Nature of Language.

1. THE
NATURE OF
LANGUAGE

2. Lesson Description
This lesson will discuss the nature, elements and
functions of language. This lesson will also
provide activities and exercises that will assist
students’ knowledge as they determine the key
ideas in language and communication, and at
same time, be able to relate their personal
experiences with the input presented.
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3. Answer briefly
1. What is language?
2. Do animals communicate?
3. Do animals have language?
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4. 1.
WHAT IS
LANGUAGE?

5. NATURE OF LANGUAGE
 Together with the creation of human life is
the creation of a wonderful and dynamic
human capacity --- language.
 Animals are said to be able to communicate
with each other. Whales sing, wolves howl,
dogs barks, and birds chirps. The sounds
these creatures produce often reflect the
state of their emotions.
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6. NATURE OF LANGUAGE
 While it may be true that animals
communicate, only human
beings are truly capable of
producing language.
 What exactly is language?
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7. “Linguists agree that a language
can only be called a language if
it has a system of rules
(grammar), a sound system
(phonology), and a vocabulary
(lexicon).
These are the requirements for
identifying a means of communication
as a language. 7

8. LANGUAGE
Is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols
used by people for communicating
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9.  A monkey may be able to signal to its
partner that it is sharing food. The
monkey will produce sounds and
gestures, but will not be able to
organize the sounds into a
meaningful system with rules.
What the monkey is producing is not
a language in the strictest sense of
the word.
EXAMPLE
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10.  Human beings, on the other hand,
are able to communicate their desire
to share food in several ways that
are understandable to other human
beings.
 Can you give some ways?
EXAMPLE
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11. Speech
Community
 When people use language,
they can understand each
other because they belong
to the same speech
community.
 They can understand each
other because in their
speech community, people
share the same set of rules
in the language system.
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12. Language
Acquisition
 While growing up,
people acquire the
languages used by
those in the
community. This is
the process of
language
acquisition.
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13. Mother
Tongue
 The language acquired
while growing up is
known as mother
tongue, which may
also be referred to as
first language.
 What is your first
language?
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14. Second
Language
 People discover later on
that other languages are
needed for various
reasons. These other
languages may be
referred to as second
languages.
● What is your second
language?
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15. Language
Learning
 People learn these
languages by
studying formally in
school or informally
on their own. This is
the process of
language learning.
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16. What happens when people visit another
speech community that is
different from their
own?
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17. Example
 What happens if you, for example, who
speak a mother tongue and English, go
to work in China where the residents
speak Putonghua (Mandarin) and a little
bit of English? Will you be able to
communicate with the Chinese?
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18. Example
 The answer is yes. Though it will be a
challenge for you and your Chinese
friends to try to understand each other,
eventually you will be able to
communicate as you slowly learn each
other’s languages.
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19. Language
Contact
 What happening here is
called language contact.
The result of such contact
may be a new form of
language.
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20. Language
Contact
 It is possible that in your
attempt to communicate with
each other, you and your
Chinese friend will produce
new language form that is
understandable to both of you.
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21. Language
Change
 Your own languages may also
change as you constantly
interact and communicate with
each other. Thus, language
change is the result of
language contact.
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22. 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.
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23. 2.
Five Linguistic
Elements of
Language

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• The study of the
patterns of sounds in a
language and across
languages.
• The sound system of
the language
Phonology
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• The study of words, how
they are formed, and their
relationship to other words in
the same language.
• It analyzes the structure of
words and parts of words,
such as stems, root words,
prefixes, and suffixes.
Morphology
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• The arrangement of
words in sentences,
clauses, and phrases
• the study of the
formation of sentences
and the relationship of
their component parts.
Syntax

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• The study of
meanings in a
language
Semantics

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• The appropriate use
of language in different
contexts
Pragmatics

29. Thanks!
Any questions?
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30. Learning Resources
● Labastilla, S.R., Rana, V., Solmerano, E.T., Vitasa, Z.
(2020), Purposive Communication for 21st Century
Learners, 1st Edition, Fastbook Educational Supply Inc.
● Madrunio M. and Martin I. (2018). Purposive
Communication Using English in Multilingual Contexts. C &
E Publishing Inc.
● https://nche.ed.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2018/11/read_ch5.doc#
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