What are the characteristics of human language? Discuss each in detail
Language is one of the most special abilities of human beings. It allows people to talk, think, express emotions, ask questions, and share ideas. Human language is very different from the ways in which animals communicate. It has certain features that make it unique. These characteristics help us understand what language is and how it works. Let’s look at these main features one by one in simple terms.
1. Arbitrariness
Arbitrariness means there is no direct connection between a word and its meaning. For example, the word “dog” does not look or sound like the animal it represents. Other languages use different words for the same animal, like “perro” in Spanish or “kutta” in Hindi. This shows that words are chosen by people in a society and are not naturally connected to their meanings.
2. Duality of Structure (or Duality of Patterning)
This means that language works on two levels. On the first level, there are individual sounds or letters (like /b/, /a/, /t/). These sounds on their own don’t mean anything. But when we put them together, they make words (like “bat”). So, a small number of sounds can create many different words when combined in different ways.
3. Displacement
Human language allows us to talk about things that are not present. We can speak about the past, the future, or even imaginary things. For example, you can talk about what happened yesterday or your plans for next year. Most animal communication is about the here and now, but humans can go beyond that.
4. Productivity (or Creativity)
People can create an endless number of new sentences and ideas using a limited number of words and rules. Even if you have never heard a certain sentence before, you can still understand it. For example, “The purple elephant danced on the moon” is a sentence you may have never heard, but you can imagine and understand it. This shows that language is creative.
5. Cultural Transmission
Language is passed from one generation to the next through learning. A baby is not born knowing a language; it learns the language spoken by its family and community. This shows that language is not inborn like walking, but is taught and learned. Different cultures speak different languages, and children pick up the one they hear around them.
6. Discreteness
This means that language is made up of small units that are clearly separate from each other. For example, the sounds in the word “bat” are /b/, /a/, and /t/. Changing just one sound can change the meaning, like “bat” to “cat.” This shows that every part of a word has a specific role.
7. Reflexivity
Humans can use language to talk about language itself. This is called reflexivity. For example, when you study grammar or discuss the meaning of a word, you are using language to talk about language. This is something animals cannot do.
8. Interchangeability
People can both send and receive messages using language. If you can say something, you can also understand it when someone else says it. In some animal systems, only certain members can make sounds, but humans can all share and receive language equally.
9. Specialization
Language is mainly used for communication. Unlike animal cries that might also have physical uses (like a dog growling while showing teeth), human speech is mainly used to pass on information. The sounds we make in speech are shaped for talking, not for anything else.
10. Prevarication
Humans can lie or say things that are not true. We can also use jokes, fiction, or pretend. This shows that language is not always used to tell facts. It gives us the freedom to imagine or even deceive.
Conclusion
These characteristics make human language a powerful and flexible tool. Arbitrariness, productivity, displacement, and the other features help us express thoughts, share culture, and connect with others in ways that animals cannot. By understanding these features, we can appreciate how complex and special human language really is.