Essay About Nature Of Language And Symbol System

Nature of Language
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NATURE OF LANGUAGE,
The Symbol System of Verbal Communication
LANGUAGE
A system of sounds and symbols used to communicate ideas and feelings
FEATURES OF LANGUAGE
Language is a system
Language is symbolic
Language is conventional
Language is learned
Language changes
CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE
Language has symbols
ELEMENTS
Written language – letters of the alphabet and punctuation marks
Spoken language – sounds, pauses, pitch, accent or stress and intonation
NONVERBAL LANGUAGE
Linguistic symbols like the use of hands, body, face, eyes
Language is rule-governed
Phonological rules
The formation of sounds into words
Syntactic rules
The arrangement of words into sentences
Semantic rules
The way in which the speakers of a language interpret or attach meaning to a particular symbol
Regulative rules
The appropriate interpretation of a message in a given context
Language is a creative act
Language changes
Meanings are in people, not words
Would consulting a dictionary be of much help? Not in a very precise way –
It gives several definitions and it is not always clear which one applies in a given situation
Choice of words are not found
Most words are defined by other words
Nonsensical words
Language is culture-bound
Communication takes place among people with a large common background
Perceive
Identify
Interpret
Language develops attitudes
Personal names