Language and Communication.pdf

Language and Communicatio n What is a language? Together with the creation of human life, is the creation of a wonderful and dynamic human capacity - LANGUAGE. Linguists agree that language can be called a language if: ✔ it has a system of rules (grammar) ✔ it has a system of sounds (...

Language and Communicatio n What is a language? Together with the creation of human life, is the creation of a wonderful and dynamic human capacity - LANGUAGE. Linguists agree that language can be called a language if: ✔ it has a system of rules (grammar) ✔ it has a system of sounds (phonology) ✔ it has a vocabulary (lexicon)  Animals produce sounds and gestures to communicate but they are not organized into meaningful system of rules, therefore it could not be called a language. Humans are able to communicate through several ways that are understandable to other human beings: utter words, raise questions or give statements. People fully understand each other because they share the same set of rules in the language system common to a SPEECH COMMUNITY. Children as they grow, acquire the languages used by those in the community known as the process of LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.  The languages acquired while growing up are known as MOTHER TONGUES or FIRST LANGUAGES. Languages used at home - Bicol, Filipino, English or other dialects People discover later on that other languages are needed for various reasons called SECOND LANGUAGES Languages used in school or work - Filipino or English They learn these languages by studying formally or on their own called the process of LANGUAGE LEARNING What happens if you speak a mother tongue and a little English and happens to visit another country say China where residents speak Mandarin and a little of English, will you be able to communicate with them? Definitely YES, but there is some sort of struggle to understand some of the words because English and Mandarin have different sound systems - pronunciation may differ. But eventually, constant communicating with them, will slowly learn each other’s language, called LANGUAGE CONTACT It is possible that your attempt to communicate with each other will produce a new language form that is both understandable to each other.  Your own language may also change as you 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 to be able to use the language more effectively and productively in communicating with each other.