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Language Acquisition

Language is the system of words, signs, and rules that allow humans to communicate and express thoughts and feelings. It requires three core components: a system of grammar rules, a sound system, and a vocabulary. While other animals can communicate, only humans possess true language with its rule-based structure. When people speak the same language, they understand each other because they share the same language rules as part of their speech community. People naturally acquire their mother tongue but also often learn second languages either formally in school or informally on their own. When different speech communities interact, their languages can influence each other or a new hybrid language may emerge to facilitate communication between the groups.

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45 views2 pages

Language Acquisition

Language is the system of words, signs, and rules that allow humans to communicate and express thoughts and feelings. It requires three core components: a system of grammar rules, a sound system, and a vocabulary. While other animals can communicate, only humans possess true language with its rule-based structure. When people speak the same language, they understand each other because they share the same language rules as part of their speech community. People naturally acquire their mother tongue but also often learn second languages either formally in school or informally on their own. When different speech communities interact, their languages can influence each other or a new hybrid language may emerge to facilitate communication between the groups.

Uploaded by

Giralph Nikko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language

 Together with the creation of human life is the creation of a wonderful dynamic
human capacity.
What is Language?
 The system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to
each other.
 The words, their pronunciation and the methods of combining them used and
understood by a community.
What EXACTLY is Language?
 Linguist agree that language can only be called language if it has the following:
o System of Rules (grammar)
o Sound system (Phonology)
o Vocabulary (Lexicon)
 Examples:
o A monkey may be able to signal to its partner that it is sharing food. The
monkey will produce sounds and gestures but will not be able to recognize
the sounds into a meaningful system with rules. What the monkey is
producing is not a language in the strictest send of the word. Human
beings, on the other hand are able to communicate their desire to share
food through several ways that are understandable to other human
beings.
 When people use language, they can understand each other because they
belong to the same speech community. They can understand each other
because in their speech community, people share the same set of rules in the
language system.
Language Acquisition
 It is the process where people acquire languages used by those in the
community. These languages are referred as Mother Tongues or first languages.
Second languages
 These are languages needed for various reasons. People learn these languages
by studying formally in school or informally on their own This is the process of
language learning.
What happens if people visit another speech community that is different from their own?
 American and British speak English. However, they spell English words
differently. They pronounce words differently. They have different ways of
expressing the same concepts. It can be said that the American and the British
belong to two speech communities which do not have exactly the same set of
rules for their languages. This is why there are differences in their languages.
Language Contact
 Occurs when speakers of two or more languages or varieties interact and
influence each other.
Question: What happens if speak a mother tongue and English, work in China where
the residents speak Putonghua (Mandarin) and a little bit of English?
 The result of such contact may be a new form of Language. It is possible that in
your attempt to communicate with each other, you and your Chinese friend will
produce a new language from that is understandable to both of you. Your own
language may also change as you constantly interact and communicate with
each other. Thus, language change is the result of language contact. Language
is indeed a complex human capacity. It is, therefore, important to be aware of its
features and behavior to be able to use language more effectively and
productively in communication with others.

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