Functions of Language
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Introduction
- Human beings alone have a complex skill of using language through speech, and writing. We use
our vocal organs to make different sounds, words, phrase, and sentences.
- No language was created in a day or by a single person. It is mutually created by a group of
humans to communicate.
- Language also change and die, grow and expand unlike human.
- Language plays an important role in human life, we try learning and using language as a mean of
communication. As well as a social symbol of humanity.
- By using language one can make statements, convey facts or information, explain or report
something and maintain social relations.
Meaning of Language
- The word ‘Language’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Lingue’. Which means ‘Produced with the
tongue’.
- Language is the metod of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use
of words in a structured and conventional way, which helps a person to express his/her feelings,
emotions, thoughts, interests, desires etc.
Definitions of Language
- Henry Sweet “Languange is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into
words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that ideas into
thoughts.”
- Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager “A language is a system of arbitraty vocal symbols by means
of which a social group cooperates.”
Characteristics of Language
- Language is a System
- Language is a Symbolic
- Language is a Social
- Habit-forming Process
- Language is flexible
- Language is Learnt
- Language is based on common Cultural Experience
- Language is for communication
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1. Language is Learnt
o Language is not a born activity like crying or walking. It has to be learnt .
o Any learner learns the language by imitation and practice.
2. Language is acquired behavior
o If a baby or man is shifted to another community or cultural group he will acquire the
language spoken by that community
3. Language is a system
o Language is system like human body. Language functions through sound, words and
structure
4. Language is vocal
o The language is primarily observed speech . speech is the fundamental thing in
language learning, reading, and writing are secondary
5. Ever changing
o Every language is undergoing changes in it’s grammar, vocabulary, structure with the
course of time
6. Language is for communication
o It is used for self-expression, verbal thinking. We cannot communicate in any real sense
without language.
7. Language is unique
o Each language is unique. No two language are alike. They cannot have a same set of
patterns of structure, sound, grammatical rules or words
8. Language is made of habits
o A language is learnt by use and not by rules learning a language is a process of habit
formation
9. Language is based on cultural experiences
o Every language is the product of a particular society and culture.
10. Language is Arbitrary
o The relationship between word and meaning is arbitrary.
o There is no relationship between the words and it’s meaning.
o Example :
‘Bhasha’ = Hindi
‘Zaban’ = Urdu
‘Language’ = English
Functions of Language
- Informative Function : the main purpose of language is to communicate information.
- Expressive Function : language is used to express feelings emotion or attitudes and exoke
similar feelings in the reader.
- Directive Function : when a person wants another person or group of person to perform an
action or to prevent action the directive function of language is used.
- Interpretative Function : the major function of language is to help the organism to interpret and
organize cognitive experiences and position them in one’s cognitive world.
- Function of Remembering and Thinking : language helps us to encode experiences and translate
them into thought, store them and engage in processes of different types.
- Social Function : the way we use language to communicate with others in the social
setting and developing a sense of social indentity.
- Creative Functions : language contributes to the emergence of very ‘creative’ delusions and
belief systems in the mind of humans.
Conclusion
- Language plays a very important role in human life. Therefore it is impossible to think of any
place or situation in life where one can function without the help of language.
