Discuss Main Characteristics Of Language
Human humans use Language as their primary means of communication. In spoken languages, spoken sounds are employed, while written symbols are used in written languages. Language is the traditional means through which we communicate with others and express our thoughts, feelings, and knowledge. Language is the most significant component of our lives since it helps us to form cultural bonds, friendships, and relationships through sharing our ideas and views. Language has a total of ten characteristics. Some are major characteristics, while others are minor characteristics. The following are the characteristics:
1. Language is a means of communication
It is universally acknowledged that Language is the primary medium of human communication. Although, among us, there are some forms of communication such as nods, winks, mathematical symbols, sirens, maps, codes, horns, and so on. However, all of these communication systems are overly reliant on Language. They aren’t as effective as Language.
2. Language is a social phenomenon
Language is a set of standard communicative cues humans use to communicate in groups. Language is a social institution in this sense since it is a social group’s possession, consisting of an essential set of rules that allows its members to communicate with one another. Language is a way of sustaining and growing culture as well as forming human ties in society. We learn a language as members of the culture that uses it or because we desire to comprehend or be understood by that society. A language dies out if it is not utilized in any community.
3. Language is vocal, verbal, and sound
The system of vocal and linguistic symbolism that makes up Language is a system of vocal and verbal symbolism. It consists primarily of vocal sounds produced by a physiological articulatory component of the human body. First and foremost, it only manifests as vocal sounds. Language is made up of verbal elements such as sounds, words, and phrases that are put together in certain ways to form sentences. Language is made up of vocal and acoustic sounds produced by various speech organs. Writing can be thought of as a clever way to represent vocal sounds. It is a visual depiction of the Language’s speaking sounds.
4. Language is arbitrary
By arbitrary Language, we imply that any particular characteristic of Language has no intrinsic or logical relationship or connection with its meaning. That there is no direct, necessary link between the nature of the things or concepts that Language deals with and the linguistics unites are combinations by which these things or ideas are expressed is completely arbitrary.
5. Language is non-instinctive, conventional
A multi-day language was not created from a widely agreed-upon formula by a group of individuals. Language is a product of both progress and tradition. This tradition is passed down through the generations. Languages, like any other human organization, can change, pass on, grow, and expand. Each Language circulates in a certain community around the world. Language, on the other hand, can be considered non-instinctive because it is learned organically.
6. Language is symbolic
Language’s symbolism is an inevitable consequence of the above-mentioned quality of arbitrariness. A symbol is a representation of something else; it is a stand-in for something else. Language is made up of a collection of arbitrary speech symbols. We use sounds and words as symbols for concepts, things, ideas, objects, and so on. Words are mostly used as symbols rather than signs to represent the concepts they represent in the Language.
7. Language is productive and creative
Language is efficient and innovative in its own right. Human Language’s auxiliary components came together to generate new expressions that neither the speaker nor his or her listeners had ever heard or made before.
8. Language is human and structurally complex
In contrast to animal language, human Language is open-minded, extensible, and changeable. Language should be changeable on a regular basis. Other than humans, no other animal has been given the ability to communicate. As a result, we can conclude that Language is both naturally human and structurally complicated, and adaptable in some situations.
9. Language is systematic
Despite the fact that they are symbolic, language symbols are organized into systems. Every Language has its own set of plans that are unique to it. Each Language is made up of different systems.
10. Language is unique, complex, and modifiable
Language is, without a doubt, a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in the world. Every Language has its own unique characteristics. Furthermore, each Language has its own level of creativity and productivity in order to provide the most effective means of communication with one another.
