Language as a tool of comunication

Language is Abstract, Artificial, Arbitrary, Redundant, Recursive, Restricted and Creative

1. Language as a tool of communication Dr. Debaleena Dutta PSIT, Kanpur

2. What is language? A code used by human beings to communicate with each other. Humans do not have a ‘call’ like animals. Language, with its creative properties, makes human communication more advanced than animals’.

3. 7 characteristics of language Abstract Arbitrary Artificial Restricted Redundant Recursive Creative

4. 7 characteristics of language Abstract Arbitrary Artificial Restricted Redundant Recursive Creative A3R3C

5. Language is Abstract Activity: Can you tell, which of these utensils can be used to drink Coke?

6. Think of the word “Glass”. Which one of the following pictures matches your thought?

7. Language as A bstraction: “Glass”

8. Language is abstract Language allows us to generalize concepts in our brain. We use this mental ‘definition’ to understand what a thing is, when we see it. This is called abstraction. Eg . The general concept of ‘Dress’ = “a formal wear” Situation1: Indian Office = Saree / Suit Situation 2: American Office = Shirt and Trousers

9. Language is artificial Activity: In the next two slides, you will see picture of humans. You have to guess the language they speak at that age.

10. Language is artificial We are not born with language. We learn it through practice. So, language is not genetic, b ut artificial. Every language is a man-made system of sounds and graphs. Each language-society has its own system of sound-graph code.

11. Language is Arbitrary Activity: Look at the picture. Name it in at least 3 languages

12. Different writing-script, same object Р - О - З - А گلاب உயர்ந்தது

13. Language is arbitrary Language is man-made. There is no genetic connection between the words and their referred objects. This makes language arbitrary. Eg .: There is no reason why a four-legged creature is called ‘CAT’ in English or ‘ Billi ’ in Hindi.

14. Utility of these 2 concepts Because language is artificial and arbitrary, language barrier & semantic barriers occur.

15. Language is Restricted Activity: Say in at least 3 ways: “I am fine”

16. Can you tell the difference in meaning?

17. Language is Restricted Language cannot express our thoughts and feelings exactly and totally. It needs non-verbal hints to indicate meaning. So, language is restricted , or, limited.

18. Language is Recursive

19. Language is R ecursive ‘Recursive’ means using the same grammar-formula to build infinite number of sentences. A recursive sentence is long, with lots of clauses.

20. Language is R ecursive Eg .: We went to see Mission Mangal , which was based on India’s mars mission, which was launched in 2013, which made India the first Asian country to do so, which made us proud.. In technical communication, it is used in writing Legal texts, like licence agreements.

21. Recursion used in Ads

22. Recursion in T-shirt Slogans I am Single; or, I am Taken; or, I am Single / taken, depending on who’s asking

23. Language is Redundant

24. Activity: Find the extra words in the sentences This is your last and final warning! Amazon is giving free gifts on Diwali sale. All of you meet me at 3 pm in the afternoon. I will never ever forgive you!

25. Activity: Find the extra words in the sentences This is your last and final warning! Amazon is giving free gifts on Diwali sale. 3. All of you meet me at 3 pm in the afternoon. 4. I will never ever forgive you!

26. Language is redundant Redundancy means ‘Extra’ We use extra words in sentences, without contributing to meaning. This happens most, when we speak. All natural languages were born as spoken language. So, redundancy is seen.

27. Language is Creative

28. Language is creative Language is creative. We use different processes of word-forming, to make new words out of the limited alphabets and grammar. Eg .: Blending: Smog [smoke +fog]; Clipping: CalC [ Calculator] Mic [Microphone]

29. Blendings in IGNITIA posters

30. Clippings in Ads