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Nature and Function of Language, At another level - distinct meanings -…
Nature and Function of Language
Definition of language
System of internalised, shared rules governing, a national language's vocabulary, grammar and sound system
Human language vs Animal language
Arbitrariness
human
no ‘natural’ connection between a linguistic form and its meaning
animal
there is a connection between the conveyed message and the signal used to convey it.
Productivity
human
The number of utterance in any human language is
infinite.
animal
The communication systems of other creatures don’t have this flexibility.
o They have a limited set of signals to choose from (fixed reference)
Cultural Transmission
human
o Humans inherit physical features from their parents but not language.
animal
Animal are born with a set of specific signals that are produced
instinctively
Duality
human
Human language is organized at 2 levels or layers simultaneously:
At one level - distinct sounds
animal
Animals’ communicative signals are fixed and cannot be broken down into separate parts
Properties of Language
Vocal-auditory channel
Specialization
Non-directionality
Rapid fade
Reciprocity
Prevarication
At another level - distinct meanings