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What is Language?

Interest in language, how it originated, how it works and develops, has existed from the time immemorial. For a long time the word «language» was a general notion used to mean the entire communicative means of man. For many, this was the broadest way of regarding language. Whatever earlier approaches to the nature of languages there have been, we realize now that language is a product of human society and can exist only in human society.

There is no language outside society. Language can be understood properly if it is studied in close connection with the history of human society. Language reflects the character, mentality and social activity of the people who use it.

Language is human and only human. The latest research has shown that some species of animals also communicate, but they do not talk in the sense in which we usually use this word. People can also use other means of communication, such as red lights, or flags, but these signs are interpreted into language. Language is the normal form and means of communication and it is determined by the social, economic and cultural history of the people speaking it.  

To define language with precision is far less easy than, for example, to define «acid» or other chemical terms. This is because many scientific researchers are interested in language – philosophers, psychologists, logicians, sociologists, as well as linguists, just for start.

As language is closely connected with thinking and is considered a vehicle of thought it has fallen under the scrutiny of philosophers. Logicians study the laws of thinking and their reflexion of language. Language is of social character by its origin and thus draws the attention of sociologists. Many definitions of language have been made by different thinkers. (Lectures on Linguistics, Berezin, 1969)



Вопросы

  1. What did the word «language» mean for a long time?

  2. Language is a product of

  3. Language reflects

  4. Language is the normal form and means of communication

  5. Language is closely connected with thinking

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