Name : Asst.prof.Rashmi Gautam
Class :B.Ed 2nd Sem
Topic : meaning of language , characteristics of language , Importantance of language
MEANING OF LANGUAGE
Man is a social being and he wants to interact with his fellow beings. This inter-action process involves language as a vital means. Language is a way of communication and social control. Language and human life are inter-related with each other. All human beings makes use of it since birth to death. It helps in the process of development. The scope of language is very wide and pervasive. It occupies an important place in academic arena. Hence, it is important to know about the learning strategies of language.
Meaning and Concept of Language:
The term 'language' has been derived from the Latin word, 'lingua' which implies tongue. Language is the whole process of phenomena associated with human vocal and auditory communication of emotions and ideas. Language is both verbal and non-verbal. Verbal language is used in the expression of ideas and thoughts and non-verbal language is used in the form of body actions, or facial expressions. Broadly speaking, language is the sum total of verbal and non-verbal expressions of an individual, related to the communication process.
Language is a social phenomena. The evolution of language finds its root from the very existence of human being in the society. The use of language is as old as human civilization. There are several languages all over the world such as Bengali, Punjabi, Oriya, En-glish, French etc. It is a tool of communication and interaction. It is a means, not an end itself.
The accuracy of language depends on the knowledge of grammar and correct pronunciation, correct spelling, correct reading and correct listening. Language is consisted of words creating a meaningful sound phonemes and morphemes are two important aspect of any verbal language.
Language: In order to know the meaning of language, it is essential to study the definitions of language. Encyclopedia, Britanica defines language, 'as an arbitrary system of vocal symbols by means of which human being, as member of a social group, and partici-pants, in culture, interact and communicate.'
1. O. Jesperson defined language as a set of human habits, the purpose of which is to give expression to thoughts and feelings.'
2. Plato said, 'Ideas and feelings are the realizations but when these are revealed, through mouth it is known as language.'
3. Bholanath Tiwari defines language as, "language involves the pronouncing organs which is used by a person according to his own, for expressing his ideas and feelings to others."
4. Allen writes, "language is a means of a communicating thoughts."
5. Block and Trager defines, "A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group operates and interacts." Hence, after examining various defi-nitions of language, it is said that language is a means of communication which involves a complex action of verbal and non-verbal expressions and the main purpose of the use of language is to interact and communicate ideas, feelings and experiences to others.
Nature and Characteristics of Language:
Again to know about the meaning of language, it is a need to understand the nature of language. But explaining the nature of language is a difficult task. The following points give a clue to understand the nature of a language:
(i) Language is a system: Language is a system of complex whole just like human body. In the entire process of body functions, different organs such as eye, ear, tongue, heart, brain and lungs etc., are inter connected and work in coordination. Similarly, language is a system which involves the functions of words, structures and sounds in an integrated way.
(ii) Language is learnt: Language is not an automatic outcome to an individual. It is learnt through one's habit. Language is learnt through imitation and practice. From the very beginning of life, a child does not speak, write or understand language but gradually, he learns it from his fellow beings who train him to use language and then, it becomes a habit for the child to use it in speaking, writing, listening and understanding. Gradually, in a system-
atic way, a child learns the sounds, words, sentences and the grammatical usage of language. (iii) Language is a social artifact: Language finds its root in the society and culture. Language is divine gift to a human being, who has cultured it from his social life. It has developed from the interaction of human beings in the society language has enriched the man and his societal life. Various social endeavours in the form of ethics and values have been
preserved through literatures the expression of language. So language is a social artifact. (iv) Language is evolutionary: Language is evolutionary in nature. It has developed from the origin of the human civilization and still it is in the process of evolution. Different sounds, words, sentences, structures etc. are coming out day after day. Human speeches and dialects have been modified into the form of language in the due course of time. Man is trying to find out different innovative usage of language.
(v) Language is a dynamic phenomenon: Language is a dynamic but not a static phenomenon. Language is in the continuous process of change, equal to the social change, language also changes. Primitive man's language has been improved to modern language with the impact of culture and science technocratic world has brought a great change in the use of language.
(vi) Language is climatically influenced: It is said that language is a speech. The climatic condition of a particular, society or nation that has its bearing on the speech of its inhabitants. That is why we notice the different style of speech or pronunciation or sounds used by American or British people, which is different from Indians.
(vii) Language is a cultural product: Every language is the product of a particular society or culture. It has a meaning only in relation to a culture and society. So different language are found in different societies. That is why, there is no similar equal words in any two language.
(viii) Language is a means not an end: Language is a means but not an end itself. It is a means of communication. Man shares his ideas, feelings, thoughts with his fellow beings by the means of language either in the form of verbal and non-verbal actions. All the litera-tures are the expressions of language in its different forms. Language accelerates the process of interaction and communication. So language is not an end, but a means.
(ix) Language is a science: Language is a science. It is built up by different wings. The mechanism of language depends on the systematic coordination of sounds, alphabets, words and structures. Scientific organization of sounds, words and structures breed a lan-guage. Just like a building is built up with raw materials organized in a scientific manner, so also language needs the proper organization of alphabets, words, structures and grammar. For full functioning of any language, it requires four basic skills like speaking, reading, writing and listening.
(x) Language is psycho operated: Language is the systematic expression of alpha-bets, words and structures. This systematic expression process is operated through one's psychology. While speaking, writing or listening, someone has to apply his psycho process, such as, intelligence, feelings, motive, thinking, emotions etc. Without the application of psycho process, language can't expressed properly and meaningfully.
Importance of language:
Man is a social being. He has to live in the society and this tendency compels him to share his ideas, feelings and thoughts with others. He is to commu-nicate and interact with his fellow beings to fulfil his needs and demands. This communica-tion and interaction become possible through the use of language. Hence, language has a manifold importance in human life.
(i) Language for survival: Social nature of man binds him to lead him in the society. No man is independent fully. He depends on his fellow beings for his existence and fulfilment of needs and desires. Survival of human beings depend on his capacity, ability to communi-cate and interact with others in the society. So he exchanges his ideas, feelings and thoughts to others for the sake of his survival in the society. (ii) Language for communication and interaction: Transmission and communica-
tion of informations from one to another can't be possible without to use of language whether it is verbal or non-verbal two individuals can't interact with each other, without the use of language. Language enriches and helps in communication and interaction process.
(iii) Language for literature: All the literary works require verbal language. Litera-ture is an art which is shaped through language. There is no question of any literature, with-out the use of language.
(iv) Language for learning: Human being is a learning being who continuously learns to adjust in the environment where he lives. Through imitation process or through habit formation process, he tries to learn and adjust to his problems and environment. His learning becomes effective and accelerated only through language.
(v) Language for preservation: Language plays a vital role in presenting our culture in the form of written history and literature. Language is a solid means through which present experiences can be stored for the oncoming generations. Though the medias and electronic devices help in the preservation of ideas and knowledge, they necessarily use some form of langauge in it.
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