“A language is a
system of
arbitrary vocal
symbols by
means of which
a social group
cooperates.”
Noah Chomsky’s
Definition
“From now on I will
consider a language to be
a set (finite or infinite)
of sentences, each finite
in length and
constructed out of a
finite set of elements.”
Derbyshire’s Definition
“Language is undoubtedly a
kind of means of
communication among human
beings. It consists primarily of
vocal sounds. It is articulatory,
systematic, symbolic and
arbitrary.”
Aristotle’s Definition
“Language is a speech
sound produced by human
beings to express their
ideas, emotions, thoughts,
desires and feelings.”
Origins (Theories)
Humanistic theory
Argues that humans had a active and agentive role on
the creation of language, purposefully developing
language over time through rationalization in order to
fulfill the psychological and social need to
communicate.
Natural Sound Source
Argues that early language
was created by ancient
humans imitating the
sounds of their
surroundings.
Social Interaction Source
Argues that language started as
social grunts and groans with the
purpose of coordinating as a
group.
Physical Adaptation Source
Argues that language is the
natural result of humans
evolving adaptations that
enable it to occur.
Genetic Source /
Chomsky's single step
theory
Argues that the ability to produce and comprehend
human language is because we are genetically encoded
with a universal grammar that helps us learn
effortlessly at a young age.
Divine Source
Argues that
language was
created and given to
us by a higher
power.
Tool Making Source
Argues that learning to use and make tools
indirectly helped us develop language, due to the
lateralization of the human brain.
Types of communication systems
Natural (Human)
Design Features
Interchangeability
Every human is able to hear,
comprehend and speak it.
Feedback
Speakers are capable of
understanding what they are
emitting.
Learnability
Any human is capable is learning any
variation of the language.
Semanticity
Meaning is constructed through
links between signifiers, referents
and meanings.
Specialization
Language’s only purpose is to communicate.
Displacement
The expression of ideas is not limited
by space nor time.
Productivity
The number of unique messages that can be
produced is infinite.
Prevarication
The communicator is capable of forming messages that lack
sense, logic or truth.
Tradition
The system of communication must be learnt from an
experienced user.
Discreteness
The units that form a language are
consistent and identifiable.
Arbitrariness
Inherent connections between
words and their meanings are
mostly absent
Duality of patterning
Smaller units that possess no
meaning can form meaning by
combining into signs, while signs can
recombine and fuse to create new
meaning.
Reflexiveness
The users of the communication system are aware of it’s
existence and therefore are able to analyze it.
Used by humans and created
naturally through centuries of
uncontrolled development.
Artificial
Purposefully created.
No capacity to evolve or
change without outside
input.
Non-human
Not used by humans and possesses
different properties that vary by
species.
Mario Marquez
Metropolitan University
Linguistics 1
References
Courleander V. (n/d) Lingüística l: FPTLI02 Universidad Metropolitana Retrieved from:
https://new.edmodo.com/groups/2122-1-linguistica-1-37996917/folders Hakim A. (2018, June 25)
Definition of Language by Different Scholars and Linguists English Finders Retrieved from:
https://englishfinders.com/definition-of-language-by-scholars/#Aristotle Joy R. (2019, June 14)
Born This Way: Chomsky’s Theory Explains Why We’re So Good at Acquiring Language Healthline
Retrieved from:
https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/chomsky-theory#linguists-debate O’Grady,
W., J. Archibald, M. Aronoff and J. Rees-Miller (2005) Contemporary Linguistics (chapter 17) (5th
edition) Bedford/St. Martin’s Press Owlapps editors (n/d) Theory of Language Retrieved from:
http://www.owlapps.net/owlapps_apps/articles?id=62779851&lang=en Yule, G. (2006). The study
of language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.