DR Sunita Agarwal , Associate professor, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

1. What is language?
Language is the ability to acquire
and use complex systems of
communication, particularly
the human ability to do so, and a
language is any specific example of
such a system. A formal language is
a system of signs for encoding and
decoding information.

2. Definitions of language
• “Language is a symbol system based on pure or
arbitrary conventions… infinitely extendable
and modifiable according to the changing needs
and conditions of the speakers” Robins (1985)
• Johns Lyons(1970) states that, “Languages are
the principal systems of communication used by
particular groups of human beings within the
particular society (linguistic community) of
which they are members”.

3. • “Language is a purely human and non-
instinctive method of communicating ideas,
emotions and desires by means of a system of
voluntarily produced symbols”. Sapir (1921)
•H. A. Gleason says:
“Language has so many inter-relations
with various aspects of human life that it can
be studied from numerous points of views. All
are valid and useful as well as interesting.”

4. Language is the institution
whereby humans
communicate and interact
with each other by means of
habitually used oral- auditory
arbitrary symbols. Hall (1969)

5. • “A language is a set (finite or infinite) of
sentences, each finite in length and
constructed out of a finite set of
elements”. Noam Chomsky
•Encyclopedia Britannica states that,
“Language is a system of conventional
spoken or written symbols by means of
which human beings, as members of a
social group and participants in its
culture, communicate”.

6. Characteristics of language
• Language is a means of communication.
• Language is species specific and species
uniform.(Homo loquens means talking
animal)
• Language is arbitrary.
• Language is a system of systems.
• Language is non instinctive.
• Language is a form of social behaviour.

7. Characteristics of Language
• Language is creative and productive.
• It has the characteristics of interchangeability
and reciprocity.
• Language is primarily vocal.
• Language is ubiquitous. It is present in all the
activities.
• It is carrier of civilization and culture.
• Language is human and it differs from animal
communication in several ways.

8. Differences between human and
animal communication.
• Humans convey and receive infinite number
of messages through space whereas animal
communication is extremely limited and
underdeveloped.
• Language makes use of clearly
distinguishable, discrete, separately
identifiable symbols while animal
communication system are continuous and
non discrete.

9. •Animal communication system is closed
and permit no change whereas language is
modifiable, extendable and open ended.
•Human language is structurally more
complex than animal communication.
•Human language has the quality of
displacement