Language and Community:

Rests upon the assumption that language is a social pillar of the

community. language is indispensable to the survival of human
communities.
Homo-Sapiens – “man the wise”
 infers those qualities that distinguish human beings from the class of
all other animals;
 infers the dominance of the human species over all other species on
the planet, and human ability to further extend its knowledge, invent
tools etc. and organize himself in a complex society;
 infers human ability to conceptualize and develop abstract ideas and
engage in problem solving.
All these capabilities, which set mankind apart from other animals, are
facilitated by his use language.
• Animals, like human beings, have a system of communication by
which they send and receive ideas about their needs and feelings.
However, animal communication lacks the complexity we associate
with human language in a number of significant ways:
not reflective or descriptive ( cannot describe an experience/reflect
on an experience);
not predominantly vocal (some only use gestures, touch, sounds,
facial expressions – limited to their immediate needs);
is instinctive (young animals do not have to be taught which predator
to fear/which calls mean danger or distress etc.).
• Thus, while all languages facilitate communication, communication is
not synonymous with language.
• Though there are many different forms of communication and
animals communication may be considered to be a language,
Linguists have identified a number of features which constitute
human language.
• Animal communications may share some of the features, but only
human language possesses all these features.
• Essentially, animals are considered not to have language based on
two crucial premises: 1) the nature of language, 2) the purpose of
language.
The Nature of language (characteristics)
1. Uniquely human – used within human societies for the purpose of
communicating. Occurs naturally for humans who do not have to
consciously convert their thoughts into speech.
2. Non-instinctive – humans are not born possessing a language. They are
born with a predisposition towards acquiring language. However, the
language we learn to speak is culturally determined – dependent not
necessarily on the language our parents speak.
3. Systematic – consistent of rules and conventions that regulate its
structure, pronunciation and order. Its system provides the framework to
generating and producing speech acts appropriate for an infinite number
of situations, rather than providing us with a finite store of readymade
utterances. Hence, the language system allows us to forever create
speech acts never before uttered.
4. Symbolic (arbitrary) – there is hardly a fixed and inherent association
between words in a language and the object or ideas that the words
signify; the meaning of the symbols used to represent certain concepts
is determined by the speakers within the language communities
(groups that speak a particular language).
5. Dynamic (evolutionary): language is always chaining as new words
are always being added to its lexicon or system of words, and words
which become archaic are dropped from uses. Meanings of some
words change with the passage of time. Ex. Idiot – private individual.
Menu. Web, mouse, gay ?
6. Maturational : as a normal human being develops and grows older,
he will gain the use of more words and more complex sentences than
he was formally taught. The brain will generate novel words and
utterances and the speaker will even use old words and expression in
new ways. This is what keeps language dynamic.
7. verbal: must be spoken to meet the requirement of language. This is
why animal and other nature sounds are not considered language.
Functions of language (Purposes)
1. Communicative Function:
 language allows us to engage in complex communication about abstract
concepts and contingency planning whether real or imagined. Ex. Talk of
past events, make projections about future events or even speculate about
probable event which may never occur at all.
 Language allows us to comprehend ideas that are completely new to us, as
well as to rearrange and communicate our thoughts and feelings in novel
and different ways we desire.
 Language is used ‘referentially' when its primarily function is to convey
information. We encounter the referential use of language everyday in our
textbooks, in recipes, when we give or receive directions etc.
2. Expressive Function:
 Language allows us a creative vent to our feelings, ideas and
emotions, both in speech and in writing. Ex. Poets, novelists, screen
writers - express their creativity as a form of entertainment/humans
use language as an outlet for all their fears and frustrations.
 Language is used ‘affectively’ when the primary aim is not simply to
communicate information, but to select the most appropriate way to
communicate ideas that show respect for the person involved and the
context of communication. Ex. “Would you be so kind to put the gifts
on the sideboard” as opposed to “Put my gifts on the sideboard”.
• Language is used ‘aesthetically’ when the user’s main emphasis is to
reveal the pleasure that can result from the images, play of meanings,
sounds and rhythm within the language use.
3. The Reflective Function:
 Language allows us to process and uses past events and experiences
to impact and alter our present situations. Thomas Edison had over
fifty unsuccessful attempts to invent light bulb before he finally
succeeded. Had he not been able, through language, to reflect on
past trials and errors he might never have seen the light.
4. The Identification Function:
 Language provides and reinforces our sense of identity in two
significant ways.
1) gives its users a sense of identity as part of a larger community.
Thus, individual users may feel an ethnic, communal, regional or
national bond with others like themselves.
2) marks off the individual user as being different from all other users
with the language community. Each speaker will use certain words
and pronunciation that are unique to him or her. This is referred to
as his her idiolect.
• Language is used ‘phatically’ when its primary purpose is to facilitate
daily social interactions and intercourse. Ex. When someone says, “It’s
a lovely day, isn't it?” and you respond, “it certainly is!” You are using
language phatically.
• Language shapes our cultural world view. In a sense, any idea that is
not expressible in language fails to exist in human interaction. An
individual’s view of the world is shaped by language and in turn
shapes the language s/he uses. Language often provides insight into
how cultures work and how they change.