Felibert R. Salvador, AB BSC MBA
Ph.D. Student – Development Management
Divine World College of Laoag
Laoag City, Philippines
“If you talk to a man in a language
he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language, that goes
to his heart.”
- Nelson Mandela
Abstract
What
role does language play in our lives? Investigation of language functions is
important on its own terms; in addition it is impossible to make progress on
the topic of language evolution without a clear sense -- however speculative--
on the adaptive aspect of functionality of language in human society. Charles
Darwin, for example, suggested the following: "As the voice was used more
and more, the vocal organs would have been strengthened and perfected through
the principle of the inherited effects of use...but the relation between the
continued use of language and development of the brain, has no doubt been far
more important....we may confidently believe that the continued use and
advancement of this power would have reacted on the mind itself, by enabling it
and encouraging it to carry on long trains of thought." Christian Butler
has this to say, “I believe that all human functions the gift of speech is the
most miraculous and that if speech were to stop all civilized living would
suddenly vanish”. Speech is the precursor of language, therefore, if there is
no speech there is no language.
gift of speech,
Introduction
A
distinguishing characteristic of man is his ability to communicate through the
use of language. This means that language has no counterpart in the animal
worldview. As the name goes, language is described as organized system of
symbols that is used to express and receive meanings (Cropper, 2003). Unique to
Homo sapiens, language appears inseparable to human nature and a feature
of human intelligence. Contrary to the above is the acquisition, comprehension,
or expression of spoken or written language by man. Adopting Darwinian
perspective, language offers a bold synthesis of human and natural sciences.
This is the more reason why Philosophers, Psychologists, Counselors, social
workers, medical practitioners, scientists, researchers, administrators, CEO’s and
clerical workers all perform their task through the power of the word. The
power of the word classically called “phonetic competence” reflects a social
pressure for vocal imitation, learning, and other forms of social interaction
and transmission.
Language
Defined
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Language may
refer either to the specifically human
capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication
or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication. The
scientific study of language in any of its senses is called linguistic. The approximately 3000–6000 languages that are spoken by humans today are the
most salient examples, but natural languages can also be based on visual rather
than auditory stimuli,
for example in sign languages
and written languages. Codes
and other kinds of artificially constructed communication system such as those used for computer programming can also be called languages. A language in this sense is a system
of signs
for encoding
and
decoding information.
The English word derives ultimately from Latin
lingua, "language, tongue", via Old French. This metaphoric relation between
language and the tongue exists in many languages and testifies to the
historical prominence of spoken languages.[1] When used as a general
concept, "language" refers to the cognitive faculty that enables humans to learn and use systems of complex
communication. (Wikipedia)
The human
language faculty is thought to be fundamentally different from and of much
higher complexity than those of other species. Human language is highly
complex in that it is based on a set of rules relating symbols to their
meanings, thereby forming an infinite number of possible innovative
utterances from a finite number of elements.
Humans acquire
language through social interaction in early childhood, and children generally
speak fluently when they are around three years old. The use of language has
become deeply entrenched in human culture
and, apart from being used to communicate and share information, it also has
social and cultural uses, such as signifying group identity,
social stratification
and for social grooming
and entertainment.
The word "language" can also be used to describe the set of rules
that makes this possible, or the set of utterances that can be produced from
those rules.
Language is
the most important aspect in the life of all beings. We use language to
express inner thoughts and emotions, make sense of complex and abstract
thought, to learn to communicate with others, to fulfill our wants and needs,
as well as to establish rules and maintain our culture.
Language can
be defined as verbal, physical, biologically innate, and a basic form of
communication. Behaviorists often define language as a learned behavior
involving a stimulus and a response. (Ormrod,1995) Often times they will
refer to language as verbal behaviour, which is language that includes
gestures and body movements as well as spoken word. (Pierce & Eplin,1999)
When we define language we have to be careful not to exclude symbols,
gestures or motions. This is because if we exclude these from our definition,
we will be denying the language of the deaf community. All human languages
share basic characteristics, some of which are organizational rules and
infinite generativity - is the ability to produce an infinite number of
sentences using a limited set of rules and words. (Santrock & Mitterer, 2001)
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Language
Is More
than Communication
While Darwin believed language evolved
from the calls and cries of animals, it is clear in the above passage that
Darwin suggests it was the enabling of "thought" that drove the
evolution of language.
We know that all animals engage in some
form of social communication. Humans, as well as other primates, share in these
basic functions in addition to whatever advantages human language itself
provides. Jane Goodall notes that human language is the single most important
difference between humans and chimpanzees. That chimpanzees have been as
successful as they have been for several million years indicates human language
is hardly necessary for creatures sharing many of our human characteristics.
Purpose
and Functionality of Language
The role and functionality of language is manifold. The discourse of
reason is the function and meaning of Greek logos. The primary meaning of word
is language which attempts to communicate feelings or intention since
communication of all realities are expressed in the here and now. The
structuring of words most often becomes equivalent to the conferring of meaning
and expressions. Man who is logos has the capacity to enhance the functionality
of his expressions. Language gives reference to the expression of man; language
purposefully communicates expressions; Language gives meaning and offers
intelligibility-letting human feelings and emotions appear; letting be;
meaningfulness becomes identified with the totality of reference. But
constitutionally man who is logos is inescapably time-bound, historical,
contextual, linguistic and relative. Therefore man’s ultimate interpretation,
his philosophy is necessarily historical and culture-bound, relatively to his
environment and worldview. His environment often prescribes the terminology,
provoke the questions and predetermine the answer (Okere, 1983). Based on the
above argument, one can make a clear distinction between man and animals. When
objects perceived by animals are pleasant or painful, they make a sort of
affirmation or negation and then pursue or avoid the object. This experience is
so with human beings. True to all linguistic understanding, to feel pain or
pleasure is to act towards what is good or bad. Man who is logos always asserts
or denies a thing to be good or bad and avoids or pursues it. Above all, Man
who is logos can speak and express his view or opinion. He can make what is not
present manifest through words so that another can see, hear or perceive it.
Through communication man expresses what he meant or what affects him. Through
language man communicates rational words which build, praise or destroys
another. Gossip is conveyed through the medium of word or language. That is why
there exists in man common meaning and concepts.
At this juncture, it should be clear that language is not simply an
instrument or a tool. Rather, language has its true being in conversation in
the exercise and promotion and understanding between peoples. The process of
communication should not be understood as a mere action, a purposeful activity,
a setting-up of signs. Language should not be a means to impose or transmit my
will to another. Above all, language is a living process in which a community
of life is lived out. It should be
thought that human language as a special and unique living process, in that in
linguistic communication, word and human worldview is disclosed. This
disclosure, this function of language means that language does not draw
attention to itself but transparent to the realities that are manifested
through it. Invented systems of artificial technological inventions of
communication are not considered to be languages. They have no basis in the
community of language or social life. Technological medium of language and
expression contradicts the neo-functionalist movement in sociology that was
adopted as tradition rather than as method (Alexander, 1985). The essential
function of language is in its lessons/messages. To speak means to say what
some other person understands. If this is the case, whoever speaks a language
that no one else understands does not speak. To speak means to speak to someone
who understands. To that extent, speaking does not belong in the sphere of the
“I” but in the sphere of the “We.”(Gadamar, 1976)
Conclusion
Language is a universal medium of understanding. Understanding therefore
is essentially linguistic, but to be properly so, it must transcend the limits
of any particular language. There is therefore mediation between the familiar
and the alien. It is a fact that no language is a world in itself. That means
that language should not close itself against what is foreign to it, rather
every language ought to be porous, and open to absorption of new ideas and
contents. In this regard, the understanding of man’s linguistic community and
his use of language ought to promote the relationship between him and others
from other linguistic communities. No linguistic community is a world in
itself. No linguistic culture is superior to another. It is only through
openness to the other that every linguistic community can develops the dynamism
that is inevitable in human development. Such openness contributes to authentic
development of man who belongs to such linguistic communities. We must submit
that the universality and meditative power of language can help promote proper
understanding among the various cultures of the world. Admittedly, this type of
understanding though radical is inevitable for peace, harmony and tranquility.
References:
Alexander, J (1985). Neo-functionalism, Beverly Hills: Sage
Aristotle, De Anima Book 111 (1985) in Jordan Bames (Ed), The complete
works of Aristotle, Princeton University Press
Gadamar, H, G (1979). Truth and method, London; Sheed and Ward
Okere T. (1983), African Philosophy-A Historico-Hermeneutical
Investigation of the conditions of its possibility, University Press of
America.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia