Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.
Sapir uses “ideas” “emotions” and “desires” in his definition. Hall, like Sapir, treats language as a purely human institution. Chomsky’s definition is quite different, it focus on the purely structural properties of languages and to suggest that these properties can be investigated from a mathematically precise point of view.
5、 Design features
语言的甄别性特征
Design features refer to the defining properties of human language that distinguish it from any animal system of communication. American linguist Charles Hockett specified twelve design features, five of which will be discussed here.
Arbitrariness 语言的随意性
Arbitrariness means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. It is not entirely arbitrary.
Example: different sounds are used to refer to the same object in different languages.
Productivity 语言的创造性
Language is productive in that it makes possible the construction and interpretation of new signals by its users. This is why they can produce and understand an infinitely large number of sentences, including sentences they have never heard before.
Duality 语言的二重性
The duality nature of language means that language is a system, which consists of two sets of structure, or two levels, one of sounds and the other of meaning.
Displacement 语言的移位性
Displacement means that language can be used to refer to things which are present or not present, real or imagined matters in the past, present, or future, or in far-away places.
Cultural transmission 语言的文化传递性
While human capacity for language has a genetic basis, i.e., we were born with the ability to acquire language, the details of any language are not genetically transmitted, but instead have to be taught and learned anew. This indicates that language is culturally transmitted. It is passed down from one generation to the next through teaching and learning, rather than by instinct.