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Purposive Communication

The document discusses the nature of language and how it differs from animal communication. It defines language as requiring grammar, phonology, and lexicon. Humans can communicate in meaningful ways using language like words and statements, while animals make sounds to express emotions. People acquire language from their communities and may learn other languages through school or independently.

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Kheianear Gelilio
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33 views24 pages

Purposive Communication

The document discusses the nature of language and how it differs from animal communication. It defines language as requiring grammar, phonology, and lexicon. Humans can communicate in meaningful ways using language like words and statements, while animals make sounds to express emotions. People acquire language from their communities and may learn other languages through school or independently.

Uploaded by

Kheianear Gelilio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Nature of Language

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:


1. demonstrate an understanding of the key
ideas in language and communication; and
2. relate your personal experience with the
input presented.
What is Language?

Together with the creation of


human life is the creation of a
wonderful and dynamic
human capacity – language.
Animals are said to be able to
communicate with each other.
Whales sing, wolves howl,
dogs bark, and birds chirp.
The sounds these creatures
produce often reflect the state
of their emotions.
While it may be true that
animals communicate, only
human beings are truly
capable of producing
language.
What exactly is language?

Linguists agree that a language can


only be called a language if it has
grammar, phonology, and lexicon.
These are the requirements for
identifying a means of
communication as a language.
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
organize the sounds into a
meaningful system with rules.
What the monkey is producing is
not a language in the strictest
sense of the world.
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. What
are those ways?
1. They may utter a word
(Food!)
2. Raise a question (Want
some food?)
3. Giving a statement (I’d like
to share this food with
you.)
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.
The languages acquired while
growing up are known as mother
tongues, which may also be
referred to as first languages.

While growing up, people acquire


the languages used by those in the
community. This is the process of
language acquisition.
People discover later on that
other languages are needed
for various reasons. These
other languages may be
referred to as second
languages.
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?
Example:

Americans and British speak


English. Do they have the
same speech community?
1. They spell English words
differently.
2. They pronounce words
differently.
3. They have different ways
of expressing the same
concepts.
It can be said that the Americans
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.
What happens if you, for example,
who speaks a mother tongue and
English, go to work in China where
the residents speak Mandarin and
a little bit of English, will you be
able to communicate with the
Chinese?
The answer is yes.

Though it will be a challenge for you


and your Chinese friends to try to
understand each other, eventually you
will be able to communicate as you
slowly learn each other’s languages.
What is happening here is called
language contact.
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 form that is
understandable to both of you. Your own
languages 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 communicating
with others.
Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:


1. demonstrate an understanding of the key
ideas in language and communication; and
2. relate your personal experience with the
input presented.
The Nature of Language

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