Properties of Human Language

Language is a source of communication along with it performs many functions that are defined by many linguists in a different way. They have variety of approaches that are used to explain the functions of language.

Language can be defined as a means of communication through spoken sounds, written symbols, or hand and body gestures. Subject to this simple definition language is neither human nor animal exclusive, meaning that all living creatures use some form of language to communicate. Humans have created the most advanced system of language. Human language has advanced to include listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and visual representation. These components are known as the six language arts and while they are individual components they are as well interdependent. What you learn about one affects what and how you learn about the others.

“What makes us human?”, is an unanswered question asked by many. Is it because of our ability to have empathy for others? Or is it because of our cognitive ability which allows us to look into the future? One of the main arguments made that separates humans from animals is our communication style; our language. Is language inherently unique to human? To answer such a question, we first operationally define language as; “a system of communication based upon words and the combination of words into sentences” (University of Oslo). The purpose of language is for us to be able to convey an infinite amount of ideas to one another. Sign language in general also falls under this definition as it has a complex system of rules and syntax that allow the signed figures to function as words. Animal communication on the other hand, is operationally defined as, “the transmission of a signal from one animal to another such that the sender benefits, on average, from the response of the recipient” (Pearce 1987). With this in mind, current research has shown that the answer is that language is inherently unique to humans.

There is no other natural type of communication quite like the system of human language. It consists of vocal sounds, written symbols, signs, and gestures. Human beings use these gestures, symbols, and metaphors for many different purposes such as expressing thoughts, providing information, giving instructions, and effectively negotiating amongst one another. Human language can express many things such as thoughts and feelings between two or more people and is the greatest necessity in human communications. In Philosophy in a New Key, Susan Langer writes “The development of language is the history of the gradual accumulation and elaboration of verbal symbols. By means of this phenomenon, man’s whole behavior-pattern has undergone an immense change from the simple biological scheme, and his mentality has expanded to such a degree that it is no longer comparable to the minds of animals.” Although other species are not without their own forms of communication, it is human language that is responsible for the success of the human species, in which makes human language unique to human beings. It is symbolic, intelligent and consists of writing, grammar, and abstract speech. Language is a main element that separates man from

Language is one of the main things that sets us apart from other animals. Why is that? How does language make us so different from other animals? Why does it make us so different? Picture this. We are in a time period where hominids are currently the newest species to have evolved. After hundreds of years, two different species have emerged; apes and Homo Erectus. The apes evolved one way, and the Homo Erectus evolved a different way. Us as humans, then evolved from the Homo Erectus. The apes evolved in a way that they couldn’t speak, and we evolved in a way that we could. Our surroundings were different, so we had to adapt in different ways, and we as humans adapted in a way that allowed us to speak. Now we can exchange ideas like building

John Stewart defines communication as a major part of human living (Stewart, 2012, p.16). In the most general sense, the terms “communication” and “communicating” label the continuous, complex, collaborative process of verbal and nonverbal meaning-making. The way Stewart described communication and the six features of communication; meaning, choice, culture, identities, conversation and nexting (Stewart, 2012, p.16). I found myself relating more with the meaning feature of communication, and Stewart goes in depth, describing meaning as a form of communication:

What is Language? Language as we know it is a form of communication, however if we stop to really think about the concept of what language is, we can see, it is any means used to communicate a feeling, an idea, or the way we exchange points of view with others. Speech, which is the definition of spoken language, is only one example of the different methods we humans use to communicate, as we know other species utilize their own form of language. As children we learn to speak within our family circle and as we grow up our language skills broaden and become endless. Of course we must keep in mind; the development of language can be affected by many factors such as education, culture, environment, a person’s illnesses, the time period a person lives or lived, and whether a language is primary or secondary.

There are many important and significant factors in a human being’s life. Without those elements, life stays incomplete. For instance, food, recreation, hobby, fun, and emotions are fundamentals of a normal life. One of those elements is every day talk. Everyday talk is the process in which people interact with each other and communicate their points of views (Tedpower, n.d.). This is a way for them to stay in contact with each other. This is important because human beings cannot live alone. They are social animals by the nature, which means at every point of their lives they need someone to talk to or communicate. If a person stays alone for a long time, he starts being depressed and frustrated which can lead to many odd behavioral traits. People who talk to each other or have a decent conversation with each other can be friends, family, colleagues, siblings, sub-ordinates, employers, or strangers.

Pinker (1994c) esteems language as “the jewel in the crown of cognition.” Language serves the purpose of communicating or revealing our cognitive processes. The beautiful thing about language is that it is one of most “complex and valuable aspect of cognition” (Robinson-Riegler & Robinson-Riegler, 2008). Babies are able to learn language and sometime understand the language before they can speak it. There are different types of languages: sign language, English, Spanish, Dutch, French, Braille. All of these are ways that people communicate with one another depending on their culture and mental/physical circumstances (deaf, blind).

Human language is different from animal call systems in that it is symbolic, biocultural, complex, and unique. We have a language unlike any other species and it can be translated in many different ways. Human language can be spoken, written, morse code, body language, or American Sign Language, just to name a few. Human language allows us to understand someone else’s cultural experiences and communicate our own, in a flexible and creative way. Our language is more open that way as compared to other species. Compared to us, nonhuman species have closed call systems because animals can only produce calls in appropriate situations (danger, sexual interest, hunger, etc.). Also, animals communicate using channels of transmission rather than voice

Each culture has its own distinct way of rendering the spoken language. The aspects that make words and their meaning distinct are as unique as the properties of language that make them arbitrary. Words are nothing more than sounds. It is up to us to connect them to their actual meaning. This system follows no specific reason for words and their relation to objects, it is the culture that appoints meaning - this is why it is arbitrary. However, even though we can say that word meanings are arbitrary; language is not.

Communication is the “process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior (Bauer, T., &

The claim, humans are the only animal that can acquire language has been the subject of much debate as scientists have investigated language use by non-human species. Researchers have taught apes, monkeys, parrots and wild children with various systems of human-like communication. Thus, one might ask, what is human language? According to Ulla Hedeager, A universally accepted definition of language or the criteria for its use does not exist. This is one of the reasons for the disagreement among scientists about whether non-human species can use a language. In nature, researchers find numerous types of communication systems, several of which appear to be unique to their possessors, and one of them is the language of the human species. Basically, the purpose of communication is the preservation, growth, and development of the species (Smith and Miller 1968:265). The ability to exchange information is shared by all communication systems, and a number of non-human systems share some features of human language. The fundamental difference between human and non-human communication is that animals are believed to react instinctively, in a stereotyped and predictable way. Generally, human behavior is under the voluntary control,

Humans are fascinating creatures with unique attributes. Although we are relatively new to the planet compared to other species, we have used our remarkable characteristics to become more advanced and to develop at an accelerated rate. We are always evolving and changing using our extraordinary skills and qualities, consequently, we have come a long way from our hominid ancestors and continue to develop and learn. Our characteristics have extended our control over the world rapidly. There are many traits that are specific to human beings that make us significantly different from other animals. As humans, we have exceptional advantages in our everyday lives and there are specific reasons for it. The most important characteristics of human beings

Although, there is no agreed definition of language among linguists, but we can say that language is the most sophisticated way of communication between any two human beings and far more complex than any other system of communication. The ability of acquiring and using languages is one of the properties that differs us as human beings from other species.