Language is the primary communication method of human beings that is already genetically built in for each of us. As such, every individual is capable of acquiring the language he is exposed to without much difficulty. We unconsciously acquire it through our exposure to speaking humans even without instruction. However, this subconscious and automatic learning of language stops at puberty. Any language that needs to be spoken or written after that point must be learned with effort and most of the time, by enrolling in language courses for its practical use. Therefore, human beings in a way can be considered language specialists since our evolution even takes into account the speech function, in addition to its primary function, for each of our various organs. For example, our lungs are primarily for respiration but they also provide the air power needed for speech.
Language, as our way of communication, is different from other species because it is more creative and complex. We have the concept of phonetics referring to its linguistic sounds, semantics referring to its meaningful strings of sounds, syntax referring to its sentence structure, and pragmatics referring to its context of usage. While many kinds of languages change over time, the Language itself is universal for all societies around the world. By this, we mean that language is already innate even before we were born; it is acquired through the conversations of adult humans; and its principles and properties are common for all languages. For instance, all languages have grammar and can adapt to the changes that its society faces. It is also, for the most part, created subconsciously. Otherwise, toddlers would have to stop every time to compose the words they would have to communicate to their parents. As such, being fluent in a language already involves complicated brain functions. This neuronal complexity explains why a polyglot has that much linguistic competence.
Learning a language is so flexible that there could be difficulties associated when studying it as a prescriptivist who are very strict with grammar or as a descriptivist who are more open-minded about its correct usage. This brings us to the two kinds of English: the formal and the informal. Whether you prefer to be a prescriptivist or not, it can be said that using the formal and informal kind of any language would ultimately depend on the situation. Also, the language can also be divided into two: the natural languages and the constructed languages. The difference lies in the determination of its creator. Ultimately, what makes language a language is its arbitrariness, generativity, cultural transmission, discreteness, displacement, duality, metalinguistics, and productivity.
References:
- Duncan, B. (2012). Introduction to Linguistic Analysis: First Concepts.
- Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use.
