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Each of these definitions pinpoints some aspects of the essence of language.

'Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.' (Sapir, 1921)

“Language is 'the institution whereby humans communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually used oral-auditory arbitrary symbols.' (Hall. 1968)

'From now on I will consider language to be a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.' (Chomsky, 1957)

Chomsky defines language by pointing out its connotation, while Sapir’s definition focuses on its function.

The above definition captures some important aspects of language. What characteristics of language do you think should be included in a good, comprehensive definition of language?

参考答案

A consolidation of the definition of language yields the following composite definition.

1.Language is systemic and generative.

2.Language is a set of arbitrary symbols

3.Those symbols are primarily vocal, but may be also be visual.

4.Language is used for communication.

5.The symbols have conventionalized meanings to which they refer.

6.Language operates in a speech community or culture.

7.Language is essentially human, although possibly not limited to humans.

8.Language is acquired by all people in much the same way—language and language learning both have universal characteristics.