ALDAY

GUARDIARIO

Characteri
stics of
LANGUA
GE
 n g u a
La
ge
?
Introduction

Language is characterized
according to its distinguishing
qualities. These include
conventionality and non-
instinctive, productivity and
creativity, duality, displacement,
humanness, and universality.
1. Conventionality and non-instinctive

Just like any other conventional practices

naturally acquired, language is non- instinctive
and conventional. Language is brought about by
evolution and strengthened with convention. It
is a silent pact that each generation transmits to
the next. Like all human institutions, language
flourishes and perishes, it expands and
transforms. It adapts with the change of time.
Every language is a convention in the
community, a product of a cooperative mind.
 Language is non-instinctive since
none is born with the spontaneity to
speak any language. It is learned through
interaction and socialization. Language is
not biologically automated but culturally
determined. A word does not make sense
unless it is collectively understood by the
users. The language systems, symbols,
structures, and meanings are always
 For instance, in English language when
we say the word "dog" we are referring to a
canine animal that has been domesticated
which holds significance because English
speakers have collectively accepted this
meaning over time. It's important to note that
no individual is born with innate language
abilities as language acquisition occurs through
exposure and interaction during childhood
where kids imitate sounds and linguistic
structures they are surrounded by. This
educational process underscores the cultural
·The word “tree” refers to a tall plant with a
trunk and leaves, but this meaning exists only
because English speakers agree on it. In
Spanish, the same object is called “árbol.”
Children learn these words through socialization
and exposure rather than innate ability.
·Different cultures have various words for rice. In
Japanese, it’s “gohan,” which also means a
meal. These conventions show how language
evolves with societal norms and practices.
·Consider the use of “LOL” in texting, which
2. Productivity and Creativity

“A rose by another name would smell as sweet.” —

William Shakespeare
1
Notice how Shakespeare associates the object
“rose” to its distinguishing characteristic “sweet”
scent
2 as if these two words are interchangeable yet
the
3
description of the smell of the object is a specific
attribute of a rose. The images that he created do
not
4 only limit to the two words “rose and sweet”, but
to
5
multifarious metaphors, which generate other
words.
However, no one sets a finite line as to the
particular words that have to be associated with
 “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And
the next year’s words await another voice.” T.S. Eliot
As the needs of the people change, language evolves
as a means of adapting to the demands of the people who
use it. Old English has a distinct feature compared to
modern
1 English, in the same way, that the language of the
Millennial is different from the language of the alpha
2
generation. The structural features of human language can
be3 fixed to create new expressions, which are understood
by both speakers and listeners. Man uses concurrent
4
linguistics to produce complete novel ideas and
expressions.
5
This makes language productive and creative.
The sentence “The hunters shot the lion” conforms to
the general philosophical theory of signs and symbols
concerning its semantic and pragmatic sense. It makes
sense since the sounds are arranged according to their fixed
 Human language comprises of two sub-systems: the
sound system and the meaning system. Predetermined
sound combinations create units of meaning. Different
combinations of sounds produce syntactic categories, units,
and constituents that create more sophisticated and
meaningful utterances.
Language enables us to craft metaphors and
introduce expressions, like "ghosting" or "adulting" terms
that were nonexistent in eras of communication. As our
demands and encounters shift with time and occurrences
vary; our language also transforms. An example is the
progression from English to contemporary English
showcasing the adaptability of language over centuries.
Recent technological progress was able to create terms, like
"internet" and "hashtag," exemplifying how language
· New words emerge as society changes. Terms like “selfie,”
“binge-watch,” and “emoji” have entered common usage,
reflecting cultural phenomena. Each generation develops its
slang, showing language’s adaptability.
·The sentence “The cat sat on the mat” can be altered
creatively to form new sentences, like “The cat lounged on
the rug” or “The dog jumped over the cat.” This flexibility
illustrates how language allows for new combinations and
meanings.

3. Duality
The duality of patterning is the double articulation and
semiotic. Language duality is what gives language
expressive power since meaningless sounds are combined
according to rules to form meaningful words (Luden, 2016).
• In English, the phonetic combination of /k/, /æ/,
and /t/ forms the word “cat,” which has a specific
meaning. However, the individual sounds have
no meaning on their own. Change the sounds
to /b/, /æ/, and /t/, and you get “bat,” a
completely different meaning.
• Consider the sounds /s/, /t/, and /o/. When
arranged as “stop,” they create a command.
Rearranging them to form “tops” conveys a
different concept. This illustrates how sound
combinations create meaning.
• Language can also manipulate sounds to create
new meanings. The word “bat” can refer to a
4. Displacement
“No matter how eloquently a dog may bark, he
cannot tell you that his parents were poor but
honest.” — Bertrand Russell
Unlike animal communication that is context-
bound, human language is context- free. Human
beings are capable of narrating events and
situations without actually living them at the
moment. For human language, a stimulus is not
directly induced, objects may not necessarily be
tangibly present at the place and time of speaking.
This is called displacement. For instance, one might
say, “I went to the beach last summer,” referring to
an event that is not happening at that moment. This
 The property of displacement explains why
humans are capable of recalling stories that
happened or even creating stories that may
not be realistically possible, such as fiction.
·Consider storytelling. A child might recount a
fairy tale, “Once upon a time, there was a
brave knight,” even though the events are
fictional and have never occurred. This ability
to create narratives is a hallmark of human
language.
·Advertisements often use displacement to
 The property of displacement explains why
humans are capable of recalling stories that
happened or even creating stories that may
not be realistically possible, such as fiction.
·Consider storytelling. A child might recount a
fairy tale, “Once upon a time, there was a
brave knight,” even though the events are
fictional and have never occurred. This ability
to create narratives is a hallmark of human
language.
·Advertisements often use displacement to
evoke emotions or visions of the future.
5. Humanness
“To say that language is not innate is to say
there is no difference between my
grandmother, a rock, and a rabbit. In other
words, if you take a rock, a rabbit and my
grandmother and put them where people are
communicating in English, they will all learn
English.” — (Chomsky, 2000)
Language is innate to human beings. No
species other than humans are gifted with
language. Humans are endowed with physical
attributes for them to acquire language.
 Although animals could communicate with
each other, it is limited to signs and sounds. A
bee could determine the distance and sources
of honey by instinct or a dog can bark when he
is excited or angry. Yet these messages are
limited. Humans could clearly distinguish
concrete identifiable symbols through the use
of language; however, animal communication
is often non-discrete.
Indeed, human language is way more intricate
than animal communication.
·While dogs bark when excited, they cannot
·Chimpanzees can learn sign language to some
extent, but their communication lacks the
depth and flexibility of human language. For
instance, they may communicate basic needs
but cannot create intricate narratives or
express hypothetical scenarios.
·Humans can use language to discuss concepts
like justice, freedom, and morality, which
require abstract thinking. For example, a
politician might say, “We must strive for
equality for all citizens,” a complex idea not
6. Universality
Although each language has a unique style
of functions in terms of sounds, vocabulary and
structures, language is equal in all the parts of
the universe.
A linguistic universal Is a systematic
occurrence of the linguistic patterns across
national languages. All languages have nouns,
although the structural arrangement may vary
in the same way that all languages have
vowels and consonants. Linguists identified two
universals: the absolute, which apply to every
·All languages have nouns. For instance, the
word “book” in English translates to “livre” in
French and “libro” in Spanish, showcasing a
universal concept across different languages.
·Linguists have identified various universals,
such as the presence of verbs in all languages.
Whether it’s “run” in English, “correr” in
Spanish, or “ 走 ” (zǒu) in Mandarin, all
languages utilize verbs to describe actions.
·Absolute universals, like the presence of
negation, can be seen in phrases like “I do not
THANK
YOU!