What is Language? & Chief Characteristics of Language.

 

What is Language? & Chief Characteristics of Language.

Language is the most powerful and dominant system of communication. In addition, language is the system of conventional, spoken and written symbols by means of which human beings communicate with each other, from one country to another country or one culture to another culture. It is the best ways to express emotions, thoughts, feeling and desires.

With the change of time language is also being changed its form. Language is human, so it differs from animal communication in a few different ways. Every language has its own characteristics and objectives. 

Definition:

Spair, Language: “Language is primarily human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols.”

Characteristics of a Language

However, let us discuss the characteristics of the language in brief which are: language is arbitrary, productive, creative, symbolic, systematic, vocalic, social, non-instinctive and conventional, language is a mean of communication and language is human, structurally complex and modifiable.

1. Language is arbitrary

Language is undoubtedly arbitrary as there is no inherent connection between the nature of things or concepts the language deals with, however by which those things and concepts are expressed.

The decision of a word chose to mean a specific thing or thought is absolutely subjective, however, once a word is chosen for a specific referent, it comes to remain in that capacity. It might be noticed that had language not been arbitrary, there would have been just a single language on the planet.

2. Language is a social Phenomenon

In a sense, language should be considered as a social phenomenon. Language is social that exists in our human society; it is as a means of nourishing and developing culture and establishing human relations. As a member of a particular social group, we human beings interact with each other, which allows us to identify with one another, to connect with one another and to coordinate with one another. This is how language is the part and parcel of our society.

Language exists in the public arena, is a method for feeding and creating a society, and sets up human relations. As a member of society, we acquire a language permanently.

3. Language is a symbolic system

Language signifies as a symbolic system. It consists of different types of sound symbols and their graphological partners that are utilized to give a few objects, occurrences or significance.

These symbols are discretionarily picked and routinely acknowledged and utilized. The words in a language are not just patterns or images but symbols that denote meaning. The language uses words essentially as symbols and not as signs for the concept represented by them. The core value of a language sometimes relies on the true explanation of these symbols.

4. Language is systematic

In spite of the fact that language is symbolic, its symbols are arranged in specific systems. All languages have their arrangement of plans. Each language is an arrangement of systems. Furthermore, all languages have phonological and syntactic systems and within a system, there are also several sub-systems.

For instance, inside the linguistic system, we have the morphological and syntactic system, and inside these two sub-systems, we have systems, for example, those of plural, of mindset, or perspective, of tense, etc.

5. Language is vocal, verbal and sound

Language is a system of vocal and verbal symbolism. It is essentially comprised of vocal sounds just created by a physiological articulatory component in the human body. First and foremost, it shows up as vocal sounds only. Language takes verbal elements such as sounds, words and phrases which are fixed up in certain ways to make several sentences.

Language is vocal and sound which is produced by different speech organs. Writing can be considered as an intelligent platform to represent vocal sounds. It is the graphic representation of the speech sounds of the language.

6. Language is non-instinctive, conventional

No language was made in multi-day out of a commonly settled upon the recipe by a gathering of people. Language is the result of advancement and tradition. Every age transmits this tradition on to the following.

Like every single human organization, languages may also change and pass on, develop and extend. Each language has a circulation in a particular community around the globe. However, we can consider language as non-instinctive because naturally it is acquired by us.

7. Language is productive and creative

Language has it’s own efficiency and innovativeness. The auxiliary components of human language joined to created new expressions, which neither the speaker nor his/her listeners may ever have made or heard previously.

Truly, the two sides comprehend without trouble. Language changes as indicated by the necessities of society. After all, language has the power of productivity and creativity.

8. Language is a system of communication

Language is strong, convenient and the best form of communication for no doubt. It is the best ways to express everything. It is through language that we human express our thoughts, desires, emotions and feelings. Further, we can interact with each other easily through the welfare of language. After all, we may say that language is the best system of communication around the world.

9. Language is human and structurally complex

Human language is open-minded, extendable and modifiable on the other hand animal language is not. Language should be modifiable through time to time. No species other than humans have been endowed with language. So we can say that language is naturally human and in some cases, structurally complex and modifiable.

10. Language is unique, complex and modifiable

Language is a unique phenomenon in the world. It has its own creativity and productivity. Despite their common features and language universals, each language has its peculiarities and distinctive features. And this is how language has its own potentiality to be unique, complex and modifiable by the change of time and culture.

Conclusion

After the above discussion, we come to the conclusion that these characteristics of a language are the part and parcel to build the authenticity of any language.

 

Written By:

Prof. Muhammad Qasim 

M.Phil in Applied Linguistics