Characteristics and Functions of Language

Characteristics of Language

 

Ø    Language is Uniquely Human: Lelia Lord et al (2012) in Cape Communication Studies examined some key words in anthropologist Edward Sapir’s definition of language: “Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols.” Lord et al noted, “Only humans have the physical capability to pronounce the wide variety of sounds that are used in the world’s languages. The human brain capacity also provides the ability to deal with complex issues, to reason and to plan for the future. Even though higher-order apes can be taught to recognize words and human sounds through rigorous training, they never achieve language more sophisticated than that of a two-year-old.” As Veronica Simon and Sandra Osborne (2009) highlighted in CAPE Communication Studies, “While parrots and parakeets can be taught to reproduce sound sequences, they cannot be taught to formulate sentences on their own or to respond sensibly to a verbal message.”

 

Lord et al said, “Language is also human because it can deal with displacement. This means that language can be used to discuss things that are not present and never existed, like science- fiction writing. We also use language to discuss language. In addition, any human can acquire any human language, once exposed to it, whereas animals cannot reproduce or imitate sounds not common to their species.” (page 62)

 

Non-instinctive (naturally acquired): Lord et al pointed out, “While humans are born with the ability to acquire language, they can only do so through imitation. Therefore a child raised in an environment where he or she is not exposed to language will not learn to speak.” (pages 62-63)

 

 

Ø    Language is Systematic: Simon and Osborne (2009) stated: “Unlike other forms of communication, language makes use of a number of different systems. One such system is sound. Each language has its accepted sound patterns that are easily recognizable to its speakers. You can see that there are certain combinations of letter sounds that appear in other languages that are not acceptable in English even though these languages use the same orthography or writing system. Have you noticed that many who learn English as a second language often have difficulty pronouncing words with the ‘th’ sound? That is because this particular combination letter sound does not occur in their own languages. Sounds take on meaning in a language only when they are recognizable to its speakers.

“Another important system of language is grammar. The grammar of a language is a set rules that govern how the words of the language are put together to make meaning….Word order is critical to meaning.” (pages 40-41)

 

 

Ø    Language is Symbolic: Simon and Osborne said: “This means that it uses words as representations or symbols of ideas. Each word represents some idea or thing that has a meaning. Words need definitions because they are symbols of something else. In order for language to make sense, or be mutually intelligible among its speakers, there must be commonly understood or accepted meanings attributed to its symbols.”

 

Functions/Purposes of Language

 

1. Communication Function: The main function of language is for communicating information, ideas and thoughts. People use language to make statements (Communication Studies is a complex course.); commands (Get out of there!); questions (Do you believe she will pass this subject?), as well as for oaths and curses. 

 

2. Reflective Function: We use language to recall and recapture past experiences e.g thinking about when you got in an accident or were in the hospital.

 

3. Expressive Function: Language can be used simply to express one's feelings, ideas, attitudes, without necessarily taking the reader or listener into consideration e.g. diary, journal...

 

4. Ritual Function: a marking in some way of important events or stages in all human societies. Rituals are normally a part of ceremonies which involve the repetition of a prescribed, usually written, form of language. For example, during funerals you might hear "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...", weddings, "I now pronounce you husband and wife" or "for better or worse". Other examples include The Lord's Prayer or the national anthem at school every morning.

 

5. Other Social Functions: A person may use a specific language or dialect of a language to express solidarity or closeness with someone/group or to establish distance. Teenagers like you often coin words to establish a bond among themselves from an older generation. What are some words you use that older folks like myself might not understand?

In St. Lucia and Dominica the older people use the French creole or patois when they don't want the young people to understand what they are saying.

 

6. Informative purpose: In this case language is used with the intention of giving or conveying information like a news broadcast, a bulletin board at your school, a textbook or television guide.

 

7. Cognitive purpose: When language is used cognitively, it is with the intention of affecting the audience in some way in order to evoke some type of response. Therefore when one uses language to persuade, entertain, stir to anger or arouse sympathy, one is using language for cognitive purposes. Jokes, political speeches and horror stories are different examples of ways in which language can be used cognitively.

 

8. Poetic purpose: Language used in literary, stylistic or imaginative ways is poetic. The user focuses on the structure and pattern of the language and places emphasis on the manner in which the language is manipulated. For example, a poem.

 

9. Phatic purposes: Sometimes language is used simply to establish or maintain contact among people. Language used for phatic purposes does not necessarily seek to generate a meaningful response. For example, when we greet each other by saying "hello" or "good morning" we are using language to maintain social customs.

 

10. Metalinguistic Purpose: Simply put, this is the use of language to comment on, refer to or discuss language itself. A critique of your friend's essay or speech is metalinguistic. When you use language to consider language your purpose is metalinguistic.