The
Nature of Language
A.
Definition of Language
Language is the most important aspect in
our life .As we know language is a words that we say and use for communication.
Every body use language every day such as to make conversation and ask.
We use language to express inner
thoughts and emotions, make sense of complex and abstract thought, to learn to
communicate with others, to fulfill our wants and need. Language can be defined
as verbal, physical, biologically innate, and a basic form of communication.
When we define language we have to be
careful not to exclude symbols, gestures,or motions. This is because if we
exclude these from our definition, we will be denying the language of the deaf
community.
B. Characteristics of language
There are many some characteristics of language such as :
1.
Language is sign
It’s mean
that language can be a sign represent ideas, objects, feeling etc. For example,
when we see the broken glass scatter on the road, directly it can be a sign
that just an accident.
2.
Language is symbol
It’s mean
that language represent something not directly and naturally. For example red
color symbolizes courage.
3.
Language is signal
It’s mean
that language as signal that make from people to people that will received the
signal. For example when run competition, jury blew the whistle then runners
will start competition.
4.
Language is gesture
It’s mean that language
can be sign with moving our body . For example nod it’s mean yes.
5.
Language is sound
It’s mean that languages sounds over the other representations in
writing which are regarded as secondary phenomenon of speech. For instance, all
traditional orthographies and letters used in common alphabets, such as the
familiar Roman alphabet, represents different sounds in different languages.
6.
Language is linear
It’s mean that we can represent language by using symbols for each
sound and arrange them in a linear succession similar to the sounds production
order.
7.
Language is systematic
Language
systematic, means it is describable in terms of finite number of units that can
combine only in a limited number of ways. Due to that, terms such as sound system, grammatical system etc.
8. Language is
meaningful
It is principally through the acquisition of language that the child
becomes an effective member of the community, and the leaders in a community
preserve and advance their leadership largely through their ability to
communicate with people through language.
9. Language is
arbitrary
This refers to the idea that the conditions required for the
existence of more than one language: that there be no direct necessary
connection between the nature of things or ideas language deals with and the
linguistic units and combinations by which these things or ideas are expressed.
10. Language is
conventional
The use and formation of linguistic units is so regular that these
units almost seem to be employed according to agreement among the speakers. So
language can be said to be conventional as a consequence of this apparent
agreement.
11. Language is
creative
Language can be used to create a new world through the imaginative
manipulation of the standard interlocking of the phonological, grammatical and
lexical systems poets and creative writers or speakers which extend our
awareness of possible relations among things.
12. Language is
unique
Since languages are arbitrary, systematic networks of contrasts,
each language can be said to be unique.
C. The
Function of Language
1. Language
as Communication Tool
It’s mean that when we
talk to someone else , we use language for communicatioan. For example we talk
about bussiness, social , and culture.
2. Language
as adaptation
It’s mean that when we
can use language , we will easy to adapt in our social environment.
3. Language
as expression
It’s mean that we can
express our self .For example when we want to express love to someone.
4. Language
as character build
It’s mean that with languages we can identify our
ability. For example when our body hungry.
5. Language
as tool to unite the nation
It’s mean that language
can make people unite although in different ethnic.
D. Component
of Language
1. Phoneme
Pnoneme is smaller part from language that doesn’t have meaning.
Pnoneme is smaller part from language that doesn’t have meaning.
Example:
Aa,Bb,Cc,Dd,Ee,Ff,Gg,Hh,Ii,Jj,Kk,Ll,Mm,Nn,Oo,Pp,Qq,Rr,Ss,Tt,Uu,Vv,Ww,Xx,Yy,Zz.
2. Morpheme
Morpheme is a basic of word. There are two kind og morpheme :
Morpheme is a basic of word. There are two kind og morpheme :
a. Free
morpheme is a free word can stand by
self
Example : asystematic
b.
Bound morpheme is a word can’t stand by
self
Example : sadness
3. Word
Word is smaller part of language but
have meaning.
Example : Book , house
4. Phrase
Phrase is the phrase have meaning but no
figure.
Example : long hair
5. Clouse
Clouse is phrase have meaning and
figure.
Example : when hengkiis taking a shower
the earth a wake came
6. Sentence
Sentence is a group of words that have
the fewest subject + verb, and contains a complete understanding.
Example : hengki is playing football.
E. Approaches to language
So there are two approaches of classification.
1.
Typological approach
This approach groups languages according to their similarities and
differences in linguistic structure.
2.
Genealogical approach
A genealogical approach of classification tends to show the
historical relationships between languages.
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