Language and Communication

Language

• primary means of communication.
• is transmitted through learning, as part of enculturation.
• based on arbitrary, learned associations between words and things they stand for.
• allows us, humans, to discuss the past and future, share our experiences with others, and benefit from their experiences.

Humans uses nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions, gestures, and body stances and movements. But language is the main systems humans use to communicate.

No language uses all the sounds the human vocal tract can make.

Phonology - the study of speech sounds- focuses on sound contrasts (phonemes) that distinguish meaning.

Phonemes - smallest sound contrast that makes a difference.

Phonetics - study of speech sounds in general, what people actually say in various languages, how sounds are produced.

Kinesics-the study of communication through body movements, stances, gestures, and facial expressions.

Morphology - studies the forms in which sounds combine to form morphemes - words and their meaningful parts.

Lexicon - language's dictionary containing all its morphemes and their meanings.

Syntax - refers to the arrangement and order of words in phrases and sentences.

Semantics - refers to a language's meaning system.