Nature of Language
In this video we’ll review the nature of language by defining the term language, describing
some basic rules of language use, and examining how people use language in everyday communication
with others.
The information in this video provides a general overview of the nature of language.
Please consult assigned readings for more in-depth information.
As the course progresses, many of the ideas discussed in this video will be covered in
more detail.
Language is made up of symbols that humans use to communicate with each other.
The symbols of a language can be spoken or written, and some are communicated in movements
(as in sign language).
In order for humans to understand the meanings communicated in complex arrangements of symbols,
we must follow specific rules that guide symbol use within a language.
Symbols are used to communicate ideas people hold and to share what they think.
Since we cannot communicate telepathically, the sharing of symbols is the only way some
of our deepest, and most complex, thoughts can be shared with others.
Some symbols are concrete and tangible; they seem to align directly to an object or being.
For instance, words like “flower,” “cat,” and “clock” all have fairly specific definitions.
However, the generic definitions of these terms may not be specific enough to clearly
communicate one’s thoughts to another.
Take the word “cat,” for instance.
Imagine a person being invited for a weekend stay at a friend’s house.
When making plans, the friend states to the guest that a really big cat lives in the house
and asks if having the cat in the house during the visit will be a problem.
The guest, imagining the size of common domestic cats (even the big ones), agreed that a big
cat in the house would not be a problem.
When the guest arrived to stay for the weekend, however, the domestic house cat the guest
met was not what the guest imagined at all.
It was actually an exotic Serval cat that was nearly 3 feet tall, a bit aggressive,
and ate live small animals (not dry cat food) for dinner.
Unfortunately, the guest was shocked and a bit frightened of the cat.
How could such a misunderstanding occur?
Well, the symbols we use to describe what we mean are not necessarily understood by
others as we intend them to be understood, even the fairly concrete ones.
If two people can have a misunderstanding over a fairly concrete term like “cat,”
imagine the misunderstandings people might have when using symbols to communicate more
abstract ideas like intelligent, funny, or love.
The meanings of these three symbols are not based on how something looks, but on how each
individual who uses them personally defines them.
Take the word love, for instance.
Each individual defines this symbol love based on her or his experiences with the emotion.
These experiences are based on how each individual has been treated by others who say they love
them, stories and songs about love, and other ways society as a whole teaches them about
love.
Say two people are in a romantic relationship.
Person A says, “I love you” to Person B. To Person A, love means “I feel attracted
to you and have fun with you.”
However, to Person B, “I love you” is only something that is said if two people
intend to marry and spend the rest of their lives together.
It’s not hard to image that differences in defining the symbol love could lead to
misunderstandings between person A and person B.
As the personal definitions people hold of symbols influence understanding among people
during communication, so too do the rules of a language.
The rules of a language guide both the use and meaning of symbols.
There are 3 categories of rules that govern each language: Semantic Rules, Phonological
Rules, and Pragmatic Rules
It is important to note that semantic, phonological, and pragmatic rules can change from language
to language.
Semantic rules govern the meanings of words.
The examples already presented using the words “cat” and “love” are both rooted in
misunderstandings in semantics.
Meanings of words are categorized into two areas, denotative meaning and connotative
meaning.
A denotative meaning of a word is a literal definition of a word.
It is commonly called the “dictionary meaning” of a word because people can look up a formal
meaning of a word in a dictionary.
Dictionary definitions of words describe what words should mean when used.
The misunderstanding in the cat story is an example of differences in a denotative meaning.
However, it is common for people to use words in ways that are not described in a dictionary.
This non-standard use of language is called “slang.”
Common examples of slang words include calling something “lit” if you think it’s really
awesome, using “woke” to indicate that a person or people are aware of cultural issues
and major events or are empathetic to others’ needs.
Using “low key” to ask someone not to share information with others or “high key”
for information others can (and maybe should) know.
Or, using “savage” to indicate something is hard-core.
Using “sus” to describe something that is suspect or shady.
And, referring to someone as “extra” if she or he is not part of a key group or situation.
A second type of meaning of a word is the connotative meaning.
The connotative meaning of a word is the personal meaning of a word.
It is based on each person’s experience of a word.
Connotative meaning is commonly accompanied by emotions.
Have you ever noticed that the use of some words upset some people but not others?
For instance, the word “damn” is upsetting to some (because it is labeled as a curse
word), but not upsetting to others.
Have you ever carefully chosen your words to avoid causing an emotional reaction from
another person?
If so, you’ve carefully considered the connotative meanings that the person may assign to words
you use when communicate.
Pragmatic rules direct people on how to use a language when interacting with others.
While semantic rules dictate how words in a language are defined, pragmatic rules, on
the other hand, govern how words should be used during communication based on the context.
Sometimes the words used are clearly understood by others, but take on additional meaning
based on where or to whom they are said.
For instance, a child might like it when a parent calls him “honey” at home, but
be embarrassed if called honey in front of his friends.
It might be fun and appropriate to use curse words privately with friends, but not appropriate
to use at work in front of your boss.
The third category of rules is based on how words are said.
Called “phonemics,” these rules dictate how words should sound when spoken.
Even though some words sound similar when spoken, similar sounding words can have very
different meanings.
For example: He shed a tear.
She saw a tear in her jacket.
She will refuse the offer.
He noticed the trashcan was full of refuse.
He fried an egg in a pan.
Don’t forget to pan the entire audience when filming the scene.
Beyond knowing the rules of a language we should also consider other factors of language
use during communication.
One is that meanings of words are in individual people and not in the words themselves.
When people hear or read a word, they interpret that word according their own personal experience
– they interpret what is perceived from their own point of view.
Another is that language is powerful.
Using words can ignite anger, bring about joy, lead to happiness, elicit sorrow, and
a whole variety of other feelings within people.
Also, language can shape how people view a situation (as either positive or negative).
The words we use to describe people, places, and incidents influence perceptions of these
things.
For instance: Are you going to a party or a get-together?
Is the class amazing or a total bore?
Is the amusement park a place of wonder or an over-hyped consumer magnet that only exists
to siphon people’s money?
Further, words can be aligned with feminine or masculine behaviors.
Sometimes words are reserved for describing people who are biologically male or female
and their behaviors.
Sometimes gendered language can lead to confusion or unease.
For example, some people become uncomfortable (or feel excluded) with the use of a gendered
term when it is used to describe something any person can do regardless of biological
sex.
Examples of using non-gendered language include saying mail carrier instead of mailman, nurse
instead of male nurse, using “the individual instead of just him as a general reference
to a human.
Finally, people judge each other on how they use language.
For instance, people who use grammatically correct language may be viewed as more intelligent
than people who do not.
In some countries, people higher on the socio-economic scale might have a different accent than those
lower on the scale.
And, people who use a lot of curse words may be perceived as more aggressive than people
who do not use curse words.
Language use is complicated, however, the rules we are taught to follow when using a
language are designed to help people communicate both clearly and appropriately with each other.
We will discuss the nature of language in more detail as the course continues.