THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE

Summary

In this ABS Prime TV video, host Ibrahim Abdulal delves into the intricacies of language as a unique human capacity. He explains that while animals communicate, only humans possess a structured language system with grammar, phonology, and lexicon. The video discusses language acquisition in our mother tongues and the learning of second languages, highlighting the differences between American and British English as examples of distinct speech communities. It also touches on language contact, which can lead to language change and the potential creation of new languages, emphasizing the dynamic and complex nature of human communication.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Language is a unique human capacity that involves a system of rules, a sound system (phonology), and a vocabulary (lexicon).
• 🐒 Unlike humans, animals communicate but do not organize sounds into a meaningful system with rules, thus lacking a 'language' in the strict sense.
• 🌐 Language acquisition is the process by which people learn the languages of their community as they grow up, resulting in their mother tongues or first languages.
• 📚 Language learning involves the study of additional languages, often referred to as second languages, through formal education or self-study.
• 🌍 Different speech communities, such as American and British English speakers, have variations in spelling, pronunciation, and expression due to different sets of language rules.
• 🤝 Language contact occurs when speakers of different languages interact, which can lead to the development of new forms of language or changes in existing languages.
• 🌱 Language change is a natural behavior of all languages, influenced by continuous interaction and communication among speakers.
• 🌐 The concept of 'speech community' refers to a group of people who share the same set of language rules, enabling mutual understanding.
• 📖 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding language features and behavior to use language more effectively in communication.
• 🌟 The video is part of a general education course on purposive communication, highlighting the dynamic nature of human language capacity.
• 🎓 The script is presented by Ibrahim Abdulal for ABS Prime TV, aiming to educate viewers on the fundamentals of language and communication.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by Ibrahim Abdulal on ABS Prime TV?

The main topic of the video is the concept of language and its role in purposive communication as part of general education.

Why are human beings considered to be the only creatures truly capable of producing language?

Human beings are considered to be the only creatures truly capable of producing language because they can organize sounds into a meaningful system with rules, which is known as grammar.

What are the three essential components that linguists agree must be present for a means of communication to be identified as a language?

The three essential components are a system of rules (grammar), a sound system (phonology), and a vocabulary (lexicon).

How does the script differentiate between the communication of animals and human language?

Animal communication is often limited to expressing emotions or simple signals, whereas human language involves a complex system of grammar, phonology, and lexicon that allows for complex expression and understanding.

What is the process by which people acquire the language used by their community?

The process by which people acquire the language used by their community is called language acquisition, and the languages acquired in this way are known as mother tongues or first languages.

Why do people need to learn languages other than their mother tongues?

People need to learn languages other than their mother tongues for various reasons, such as for communication in different regions, professional requirements, or personal interests.

What is the term used to describe the process of learning a language other than one's mother tongue?

The process of learning a language other than one's mother tongue is called language learning.

How do differences in spelling, pronunciation, and expression between American and British English illustrate the concept of speech communities?

The differences in spelling, pronunciation, and expression between American and British English illustrate the concept of speech communities because they show that each community has its own set of rules for their version of the English language.

What is language contact, and how can it lead to language change?

Language contact is the interaction between speakers of different languages, which can lead to language change as people learn to understand each other and adapt their language use to communicate effectively.

Can language change result in the creation of a new form of language?

Yes, language change can result in the creation of a new form of language, especially when speakers of different languages interact and develop a common way of communication that incorporates elements from both languages.

What is the natural behavior of all languages as described in the script?

The natural behavior of all languages, as described in the script, is language change, which occurs as a result of language contact and the need for effective communication between different language communities.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ The Essence of Language and Communication

In this introductory paragraph, Ibrahim Abdulal welcomes viewers to ABS Prime TV and sets the stage for a discussion on language as a subject of purposive communication within general education. He emphasizes the unique human capacity for language, distinguishing it from animal communication by its structured system of grammar, phonetics (phonology), and vocabulary (lexicon). The paragraph explores the concept of language acquisition, where individuals learn the language of their community as their mother tongue, and contrasts this with the learning of second languages, often for practical reasons, through formal or informal education. It also touches on the idea of language contact and change, illustrating how interaction between different speech communities can lead to the evolution of language forms and even the creation of new languages.

05:00

🌐 Language Contact and Its Impact on Linguistic Evolution

The second paragraph delves deeper into the dynamics of language contact and change. It discusses the natural process of language learning, where individuals may learn a second language in school or independently. The paragraph uses the example of English speakers from America and Britain, highlighting how different speech communities can have variations in spelling, pronunciation, and expression, despite sharing the same language. It then considers the scenario of an English speaker moving to China, where Mandarin is predominantly spoken, and the challenges and potential for mutual understanding through language contact. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing that language change is an inherent part of linguistic evolution, influenced by the interactions between different languages and speech communities.

Keywords

💡Purposive Communication

Purposive communication refers to the intentional and goal-oriented exchange of information between individuals. In the context of the video, it is one of the subject matters under general education and is central to understanding how humans effectively convey their thoughts and needs. The script discusses this in relation to the creation of human life and the dynamic capacity of language.

💡Language

Language is a system of communication that relies on a set of symbols, sounds, or gestures to convey meaning. The video emphasizes that while animals can communicate, only humans are capable of producing language with complex systems of grammar, phonology, and lexicon. The script uses the example of different animals' communication methods to contrast with human language capabilities.

💡Grammar

Grammar is a set of structural rules governing the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in a language. The video script explains that a language is identified by having a system of rules, which includes grammar, and it is essential for organizing sounds into a meaningful system, distinguishing human language from animal communication.

💡Phonology

Phonology is the study of the sound system of a language and the organization of sounds in words. In the script, it is mentioned as one of the components that make up a language, highlighting the importance of a sound system in facilitating communication and being a distinguishing feature of human language.

💡Lexicon

A lexicon is the vocabulary or collection of words in a language, along with their meanings. The video script explains that a language requires a lexicon to be considered a full-fledged means of communication, and it is a critical component in the process of language acquisition and learning.

💡Speech Community

A speech community is a group of people who share a set of rules for language use, including grammar, lexicon, and phonology. The script discusses how people within the same speech community can understand each other due to shared language rules, using the example of Americans and British having different speech communities.

💡Language Acquisition

Language acquisition refers to the process by which people learn the language(s) used by their community as they grow up. The script explains that this process results in the development of one's mother tongue, which is the first language learned and typically the most fluent.

💡Mother Tongue

A mother tongue, or first language, is the language that a person learns first and is most familiar with. The video script mentions that it is acquired during childhood and is the basis for communication within a speech community.

💡Second Language

A second language is any language learned after the mother tongue, often for various reasons such as education, work, or travel. The script discusses the process of learning a second language, either formally in school or informally on one's own.

💡Language Contact

Language contact occurs when speakers of different languages interact, which can lead to the development of new forms of language or changes in existing languages. The video script illustrates this with the example of an English speaker working in China and gradually learning to communicate with native Mandarin speakers.

💡Language Change

Language change is the natural evolution of a language over time due to various factors, including language contact. The script explains that when languages come into contact, they can influence each other, leading to changes in vocabulary, grammar, and phonology.

Highlights

Language is a human capacity that involves purposive communication.

Animals can communicate emotions through sounds, but only humans can produce language.

A language is defined by having grammar, phonology, and lexicon.

Non-human animals like monkeys cannot organize sounds into a meaningful system with rules.

Humans can communicate desires and share information through language in various ways.

Language understanding occurs because people belong to the same speech community with shared rules.

Language acquisition is the process of learning the language(s) used by a community while growing up.

Mother tongues are the first languages people acquire in their community.

Second languages are learned formally in school or informally for various reasons.

Different speech communities, like Americans and British, have variations in their languages.

Language contact between different speech communities can lead to new forms of language.

Language change is a natural outcome of language contact and interaction.

Being aware of language features and behavior is important for effective communication.

Language consists of a system of rules, phonology, and vocabulary.

People's languages may change as they interact and communicate with others.

Language learning and acquisition are essential for understanding and using language productively.

Transcripts

hi I'm Ibrahim abdulal and welcome to

ABS Prime TV in today's video we will be

learning about one of subject matter of

purposive communication under the

general education

course together with the creation of

human life as a creation of a wonderful

and dynamic human capacity the

language animals are said to be able to

communicate with each other Welles sing

wolves Hall dogs bark and birds

cheer the sound these creatures produce

often reflect the state of their

emotions while it may be true that

animals communicate only human beings

are truly capable of producing

language so what exactly language is and

that's what we're going to talk about

[Applause]

today

[Music]

linguists agree that a language can only

be called a language if it has a system

of rules also known as grammar a sound

system or a phology and a vocabulary or

a lexicon these are the requirements for

identifying a means of communication as

a language a monkey may be able to

signal to its partner that AR is sharing

food the monkey will produce sounds and

gestures but will not be able to

organize the sounds into a meaningful

system with rules what a monkey is

producing is n language in the strictest

sense of the word human beings on the

other hand are able to communicate their

desires to share food through several

ways that are understandable to other

human beings they may utter a word food

raise a question want some food or give

a statement I'd like to share this food

with you when people use language they

can understand each other because they

belong to the same speech Community they

can understand each other because in

their speech Community people share the

same set of rules in the language system

while growing up people acquire the

languages used by those in the community

this is the process of language

acquisition the languages acquired while

growing up are known as mother tongues

which may also be referred to as the

first languages people discover later on

that other langu languages are needed

for various

reasons these other languages may be

referred to as second

languages people learn these Languages

by studying formally in school or

informally on their own this is the

process of language

learning Americans and British speak

English however they spell English words

differently they pronounce words

differently they have different ways of

expressing the same Concepts it can can

be said that the Americans and the

British belong to two speech communities

which do not have exactly the same set

of rules for their languages this is why

there are differences in their languages

so what happens if you for example would

speak some other tongue and English go

to work in China where the residents

speak panga or Mandarin and a little bit

of English will you be able to

communicate the Chinese

the answer is yes though it will be a

challenge for you and your Chinese

friends to try to understand each other

eventually you will be able to

communicate as you slowly learn each

other's languages what is happening here

is called language contact the results

of such contact may be a new form of

language is possible that in your

attempt to communicate with each other

you and your Chinese friend will produce

a new language for form that is

understandable to both of you your own

languages may also change as you

constantly interact and communicate with

each other thus language change is a

result of language contact language is

indeed a complex human capacity it is

therefore important to be aware of its

features and behavior to be able to use

language more effectively and

productively in communicating with

others to sum it up language is a human

capacity that consists of a system of

rules also known as grammar a language

system or a phology and a vocabulary or

a lexicon while growing up in a

community people acquire a languages

used by those in the community this is

the process of language acquisition the

languages acquired while growing up are

known as mother tongues which may also

be referred to as the first language

other than the first languages there are

other languages that are needed for

various reasons these other languages

are referred to as second languages

people learn their second languages in

school or on their own this is the

process of language learning in our

interaction with other people our

languages come into contact with their

languages resulting in language change

language change is a natural behavior

behavior of all

languages this time around let's try to

have

a

that