Design features or properties / Functions of language
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This document discusses the design features and functions of human language. It outlines 9 key design features identified by Charles Hockett that characterize human language, including having a semantic system of discrete symbols that can be combined productively and learned through cultural transmission. The document also notes there are different functions of language, such as the informative function of passing on factual information and the phatic function of maintaining social relationships. Overall, the document provides an overview of the core properties and purposes of human language systems.
Design features or properties / Functions of language
- 1. 1. Design Features or properties of Language 2. Functions of Language Level-3 Introduction to Linguistics
- 2. 1. Design Features or properties of Language In the 1960s, linguistic anthropologist Charles F. Hockett defined a set of features that characterizes human language and set it apart from animal communication. He called these characteristics the design features of human language as below. 1- Mode of communication: How messages in a system of communication are transmitted and received. E.g.: for humans, speaking or signing; for bees, dancing. 2- Semanticity: The fact that a communication system’s symbols have a meaning or function. Although many humans communicate through speaking, a word-like sound produced with a human mouth has no semanticity if it doesn’t have a meaning.
- 3. 3- Pragmatic function: The fact that a communication system serves a useful purpose. Hungry humans can use their language to request food. 4- Interchangeability: The fact that a participant in a communication system can both transmit and receive a message. 5- Cultural transmission: Acquiring aspects of a communication system through interaction with other users of a system from one generation to another generation, in short — learning. 6- Arbitrariness: There is no intrinsic or logical connection between a sound form (signal) and its meaning. Whatever name a human language attributes an object is purely arbitrary. This connection is purely based on conventions.
- 4. 7- Discreteness: Language is made up of small, meaningful bits that can be combined to make larger, complex utterances — sounds combine to make words, words combine to make sentences. 8- Displacement: Talking about stuff that isn’t there. This includes everything from talking about a friend who isn’t with you to talking about the past or future to lying. 9- Productivity: The smaller units of a language can be recombined in infinite ways to create completely novel utterances. It is also called as creativity.
- 5. 2. Functions of Language • We use language in order to fulfill different purposes. Each purpose can be known as a language function. Savignon describes a language function as “the use to which language is put, the purpose of an utterance rather than the particular grammatical form an utterance takes” (Savignon, 1983). • Some of the main functions of language are as follow; 1-Informative- we can pass on the factual information to the other people. 2-Phatic- we can maintain social relationship with other people in the society. 3-Emotive- we can express our emotions, moods, sentiments, and opinions etc.
- 6. 4-Directive- we try to teach/educate and persuade someone to do something and can reform or change someone by using language. 5-Poetic/Aesthetic- we can write poetry or any kind of literature. 6-Ideational- we can describe the universe, can construct the various mental representations of world. 7-Identificational- we can express our individual personality. 8-Entertainment- we can cut jokes, form riddles etc. 9-Metalingual- we can talk and discuss about language itself.