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LINGUISTICS
What is language?
What is language?
a set of signals by which we communicate;
the most unique gift that sets human beings
apart from the rest of living creatures;
the greatest accomplishment of human
civilization;
nothing in the world approximates the
human language for flexibility, complexity,
precision, productivity, and sheer quantity;
the most important asset for human
civilization.
Experts’ Definitions
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.
(Britannica.com)
What Linguists Said
 “Language is the expression of ideas by means of
speech-sounds combined into words. Words are
combined into sentences, this combination
answering to that of ideas into thoughts.”- Henry
Sweet
 “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal
symbols by means of which a social group
cooperates.”-Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager
 “Language is particularly human and non-instinctive
method of communicating ideas, emotions and
desires by means of voluntary produced symbols.”
- Sapir (1921)
Inherent characteristics of
language
Language is primarily vocal: Speech primary and
writing secondary
Language is voluntary.
Language is arbitrary.
Language is a system of systems.
Language is capable of distinguishing human
from other creatures.
Language is a means of communication.
Language is a form of social behaviour.
Language is a vehicle of thought.
It is conventional.
To conclude
It is difficult to define the term like language
as it is to define the term life. Just as life can
be defined only in terms of the characteristics
(growth, reproduction, exertion, respiration,
etc) language can also be defined on the
basis of its characteristics. Linguists tried to
define language in their way, but the most
comprehensive definition of language can be
summed up as:
'an arbitrary, voluntary, vocal system of
human communication'.

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What is language?

  • 2. What is language? a set of signals by which we communicate; the most unique gift that sets human beings apart from the rest of living creatures; the greatest accomplishment of human civilization; nothing in the world approximates the human language for flexibility, complexity, precision, productivity, and sheer quantity; the most important asset for human civilization.
  • 3. Experts’ Definitions 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. (Britannica.com)
  • 4. What Linguists Said  “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.”- Henry Sweet  “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.”-Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager  “Language is particularly human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntary produced symbols.” - Sapir (1921)
  • 5. Inherent characteristics of language Language is primarily vocal: Speech primary and writing secondary Language is voluntary. Language is arbitrary. Language is a system of systems. Language is capable of distinguishing human from other creatures. Language is a means of communication. Language is a form of social behaviour. Language is a vehicle of thought. It is conventional.
  • 6. To conclude It is difficult to define the term like language as it is to define the term life. Just as life can be defined only in terms of the characteristics (growth, reproduction, exertion, respiration, etc) language can also be defined on the basis of its characteristics. Linguists tried to define language in their way, but the most comprehensive definition of language can be summed up as: 'an arbitrary, voluntary, vocal system of human communication'.