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Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and written forms, and may also be conveyed through sign languages.
- Overview
- Definitions of language
language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
Many definitions of language have been proposed. Henry Sweet, an English phonetician and language scholar, stated: “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.” The American linguists Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager formulated the following definition: “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.” Any succinct definition of language makes a number of presuppositions and begs a number of questions. The first, for example, puts excessive weight on “thought,” and the second uses “arbitrary” in a specialized, though legitimate, way.
A number of considerations (marked in italics below) enter into a proper understanding of language as a subject:
Every physiologically and mentally typical person acquires in childhood the ability to make use, as both sender and receiver, of a system of communication that comprises a circumscribed set of symbols (e.g., sounds, gestures, or written or typed characters). In spoken language, this symbol set consists of noises resulting from movements of certain organs within the throat and mouth. In signed languages, these symbols may be hand or body movements, gestures, or facial expressions. By means of these symbols, people are able to impart information, to express feelings and emotions, to influence the activities of others, and to comport themselves with varying degrees of friendliness or hostility toward persons who make use of substantially the same set of symbols.
Britannica Quiz
Languages & Alphabets
Different systems of communication constitute different languages; the degree of difference needed to establish a different language cannot be stated exactly. No two people speak exactly alike; hence, one is able to recognize the voices of friends over the telephone and to keep distinct a number of unseen speakers in a radio broadcast. Yet, clearly, no one would say that they speak different languages. Generally, systems of communication are recognized as different languages if they cannot be understood without specific learning by both parties, though the precise limits of mutual intelligibility are hard to draw and belong on a scale rather than on either side of a definite dividing line. Substantially different systems of communication that may impede but do not prevent mutual comprehension are called dialects of a language. In order to describe in detail the actual different language patterns of individuals, the term idiolect, meaning the habits of expression of a single person, has been coined.
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word language, from words and sounds to signs and symbols. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of language.
Learn the definition of language as a system of communication, a type of expression, or a system of symbols and rules. See examples of how to use language in different contexts, such as business, computer programming, or writing instructions for computers. Compare and contrast with related words and phrases.
Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the word language, as well as its synonyms, related terms, and usage examples. Explore the different types and functions of language, such as speech, writing, communication, and linguistics, and see how language is used in sentences and quizzes.
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Language is a system of conventional spoken or written symbols used by people in a shared culture to communicate with each other. It reflects and affects a culture’s way of thinking, and changes in a culture influence the development of its language. Learn about the broadest grouping of languages, the language family, and its subfamilies, such as Romance, Sino-Tibetan, and Afro-Asiatic.
A language is a system of words and grammar used by a group of people. When we write and speak, we're using language. Animals have amazing forms of communication, but the unique thing about people is our ability to use language. There are hundreds of languages in the world, and you might be learning a second language in school.
