Language is a complex human phenomenon which cannot be
explained in a single definition. According to Aristotle, language is speech that human being produce for
exchanging their experience resulting in ideas and emotions. Sapir in his definition points
out that language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating
ideas, emotions and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced sound. Again
Noam Chomsky defines language as a finite or infinite set of sentences.
Characteristic of Language:Language is Arbitrary: Language is arbitrary in the sense
that there is no inherent relation between the words of a language and their
meanings or the ideas conveyed by them.
Language is Social: Language is a set of conventional
communicative signals used by human for communication in real life situation in
a community.
Language is Symbolic: Language consists of various sound
symbols, and their graphological counterparts that are employed to denote some
objects, occurrences or meaning.
Language is systematic: Although language is symbolic, its
symbol are arranged in a particular system. Every language is a system of
systems.
Language is Vocal: Language is primarily made up for vocal
sound only produced by a physiological articulatorymechanism in the human body.
Language is productive and creative: Language is both
creative and productive. It is creative and changes according to the needs of
society.
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