What is Language?What are the functions of language?
Language:
Language is symbolic. Language communicates through symbols. A symbol is something that represents something else. For example, if you say namaste, this sound is the verbal symbol for a particular idea ( greeting someone). If you write it down N-A-M-A-S-T-E, these letters combine to form a symbol that stands for the idea of greeting. Similarly, if you fold your hands to someone, the gesture symbolizes the idea of greeting. However, these symbols are not exactly the things they refer to; they are used only to represent them for our communication convenience.
Functions of Language:
We use language to express ourselves. Language influences, alters, and transforms the way we perceive the world. It offers a source of fun. As a dynamic system that constantly grows, language also contributes new vocabularies and ideas to us. It helps to develop relations with people, to bring them together as well as to separate them.
1) Expressive functions: Language helps to express observations. This we do by describing what see or hear. The description includes factual statements and no value judgements. Example: The manager announced that wee had a new recruit in office. It also helps to express thoughts or opinions that include judgements of observations and experiences. Language also helps to express feelings or emotions. Language fulfills yet another function; it helps to express needs, and wants or, to request help or support. For example: I want to buy a car. Could I loan some money from the bank?
2) Power functions: Language is powerful and it influences, impacts and serves as a control mechanism. It gives us labels to express our identities, negative or position. Take,for examples in Nepali, the words"Pahade" ( for the hill people), or "Maade" (for the Marvaris). Sometimes,for some social movements, or sub-cultures within the music or entertainment industry, language helps to reclaim old identities, such as Third Gender, or "Kantha" (People frrom outside Kathmandu, traditionally considered backwards and dumb which which might not be true) and recast them as a positive identity.
3) Recreational functions: Some people, like writers, poets, and comedians build their careers on their ability to use language for fun and recreation. Language serves humor and creativity, word games and crossword puzzles. Puns and riddles and bloopers are popular among people for the sheer fun they offer them. But for them to be effective, they have to be understood for just what they are. Otherwise, poor timing of joke, sarcasm, or a word-play, or their misunderstanding (poor decoding) can create problem.
4) Dynamic functions: Language helps to expand and grow itself. As it grows, it adds new words and vocabulary and contributes to its own richness. It always remains changing and evolving. Sometimes two words combine to form a new word with a new meaning, or a word is clipped to for another word. In English, compound words like feedback, bombshell, newspaper and keyboard are formed by combination of two words. Words like ad, exam and prep are clipped from advertisement, examination and preparation. New technological developments always introduce neologisms, words newly coined.
5) Relational functions: Language, specially used for interpersonal or verbal communication plays a significant role in bringing people together and maintaining relationships. Pronouns like i, you, we, our and us are used to suggest relations. Research has shown that people who communicate honest, open and intimate relational terms more often are more likely to bond with others, and experience less stress. A shared language has the power to unite people. Language difference, or critical use of language may divide people.
6) Professional and technical functions: The growth and diversity of vocabulary in language owes much to advancement in science and technology and the expansion of specialized areas of professions, from science to engineering to medicine, environment and business. Every new innovation brings to existence new symbols ( new words and phrases in the language) to refer to new phenomena, products or services. Take for examples words like carbon, God particle, endoscopy, x-ray, ozone, etc.
Language is symbolic. Language communicates through symbols. A symbol is something that represents something else. For example, if you say namaste, this sound is the verbal symbol for a particular idea ( greeting someone). If you write it down N-A-M-A-S-T-E, these letters combine to form a symbol that stands for the idea of greeting. Similarly, if you fold your hands to someone, the gesture symbolizes the idea of greeting. However, these symbols are not exactly the things they refer to; they are used only to represent them for our communication convenience.
Functions of Language:
We use language to express ourselves. Language influences, alters, and transforms the way we perceive the world. It offers a source of fun. As a dynamic system that constantly grows, language also contributes new vocabularies and ideas to us. It helps to develop relations with people, to bring them together as well as to separate them.
1) Expressive functions: Language helps to express observations. This we do by describing what see or hear. The description includes factual statements and no value judgements. Example: The manager announced that wee had a new recruit in office. It also helps to express thoughts or opinions that include judgements of observations and experiences. Language also helps to express feelings or emotions. Language fulfills yet another function; it helps to express needs, and wants or, to request help or support. For example: I want to buy a car. Could I loan some money from the bank?
2) Power functions: Language is powerful and it influences, impacts and serves as a control mechanism. It gives us labels to express our identities, negative or position. Take,for examples in Nepali, the words"Pahade" ( for the hill people), or "Maade" (for the Marvaris). Sometimes,for some social movements, or sub-cultures within the music or entertainment industry, language helps to reclaim old identities, such as Third Gender, or "Kantha" (People frrom outside Kathmandu, traditionally considered backwards and dumb which which might not be true) and recast them as a positive identity.
3) Recreational functions: Some people, like writers, poets, and comedians build their careers on their ability to use language for fun and recreation. Language serves humor and creativity, word games and crossword puzzles. Puns and riddles and bloopers are popular among people for the sheer fun they offer them. But for them to be effective, they have to be understood for just what they are. Otherwise, poor timing of joke, sarcasm, or a word-play, or their misunderstanding (poor decoding) can create problem.
4) Dynamic functions: Language helps to expand and grow itself. As it grows, it adds new words and vocabulary and contributes to its own richness. It always remains changing and evolving. Sometimes two words combine to form a new word with a new meaning, or a word is clipped to for another word. In English, compound words like feedback, bombshell, newspaper and keyboard are formed by combination of two words. Words like ad, exam and prep are clipped from advertisement, examination and preparation. New technological developments always introduce neologisms, words newly coined.
5) Relational functions: Language, specially used for interpersonal or verbal communication plays a significant role in bringing people together and maintaining relationships. Pronouns like i, you, we, our and us are used to suggest relations. Research has shown that people who communicate honest, open and intimate relational terms more often are more likely to bond with others, and experience less stress. A shared language has the power to unite people. Language difference, or critical use of language may divide people.
6) Professional and technical functions: The growth and diversity of vocabulary in language owes much to advancement in science and technology and the expansion of specialized areas of professions, from science to engineering to medicine, environment and business. Every new innovation brings to existence new symbols ( new words and phrases in the language) to refer to new phenomena, products or services. Take for examples words like carbon, God particle, endoscopy, x-ray, ozone, etc.
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