0
This question is huge, and probably too broad to be answered to your satisfaction. The brain is equipped with whatever amazing capacities are required in order for us to acquire and use language, and our grasp of it becomes more complex as we mature. It is probably fair to assume that all humans get the same basic capacities. In terms of vocabulary, it would be hard to argue that there are any words or systems of pronunciation that are anything other than arbitrary. There is at least one invented language (Esperanto) that now has native speakers. That a now-living culture of language can have been created by one person is astounding to me. It is probably irrational that this is also a little unsettling.
More interesting is the question of innate grammar, an argument put forth by Chomsky. His basic idea was that spoken language alone would not be enough to spark the development of grammatical structure in very young children. Support for this idea is waning. I think a problem with Chomsky's theory is that language acquisition is never a matter of spoken language alone. When playing with babies and talking to them, there is a constant barrage of information coming to the baby from visual and tactile cues. When holding a cup you would surely say 'cup', and you would surely play out actions while saying them. You would be constantly defining and describing things in basic ways. I think there would be more than enough information for our brains to begin assembling the root rules of a grammar.
So, is language arbitrary? Yes and no. That we have language is not arbitrary, but many aspects of our expressed language seem to be.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
The relationship between words and their meanings is largely arbitrary, as there is no inherent connection between the sounds or symbols used in a language and the concepts they represent. However, some argue that certain languages may have onomatopoeic elements, where the sound of a word is related to its meaning.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why is language for the most part arbitrary?
Language is mostly arbitrary because there is no inherent connection between the sounds or symbols used in language and their meanings. These associations are formed through social consensus and convention over time, making them arbitrary. Additionally, different languages can have diverse systems for representing the same concepts, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of linguistic symbols.
Is morphology one sector of grammar that is completely arbitrary?
No, morphology is not completely arbitrary in grammar. It involves the structure and formation of words, which often follow rules and patterns in a language. These rules dictate how words are created, and while there may be exceptions, there is still systematicity in how morphological rules apply.
Is sign language arbitrary?
Sign languages are not arbitrary; they have grammatical structures and rules just like spoken languages. They use gestures, hand movements, and facial expressions to convey meaning. Each sign in sign language has a specific meaning and is not randomly assigned.
What is bloch's ande targer's definition of language?
Bloch and Trager define language as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols that are used for human communication. They view language as a rule-governed system with a finite set of elements that can be combined to produce an infinite array of meaningful utterances.
What is the first characteristic of language?
The first characteristic of language is arbitrariness, which means that the relationship between a word and its meaning is arbitrary and varies across languages.
Why is language for the most part arbitrary?
Language is mostly arbitrary because there is no inherent connection between the sounds or symbols used in language and their meanings. These associations are formed through social consensus and convention over time, making them arbitrary. Additionally, different languages can have diverse systems for representing the same concepts, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of linguistic symbols.
How language is arbitrary?
it is constantly evolving
Evaluate the key features of language?
Key features of language include phonology (sound system), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure), semantics (meaning), and pragmatics (contextual use). These features together allow language to convey complex ideas, communicate with others, and adapt to various social settings. Language is also characterized by its generative nature, allowing for infinite creativity in producing new expressions and ideas.
How is language abituary?
Language is not arbitrary. It is learned culture, and is constrained by cultural norms even as it evolves along with them.
What is language and how do artists manipulate it creatively?
Language is the vocal arbitrary and conventional symbols accepted to be used in human communication.
List and explain the characteristics of language?
language is a social tool is a way of communication language is arbitrary it is a combination of rules it is symbolic language is productive and creative language is dynamic is a learned behaviour it is not instinctive it is systmatic.
Describe any other communication system that like language consists of arbitrary symbols?
Musical notation is a communication system that consists of arbitrary symbols representing sound frequencies and durations. It allows musicians to communicate complex musical compositions across time and space through written sheet music. This system relies on agreed-upon conventions to convey specific musical elements, much like how language uses arbitrary symbols to represent concepts and meanings.
What does the five characteristics of language?
The five characteristics of language are phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Phonology refers to the sounds used in a language, morphology deals with word structure, syntax is the arrangement of words in a sentence, semantics is the meaning of words and sentences, and pragmatics is how context influences language use.
Why is language defined as an arbitrary system of vocal symbols?
Human languages are arbitrary by nature: There is no reason why a furry domestic animal that purrs should be called cat, and not blop or fleechtafly.The fact that different languages use different words to describe the same thing is, in itself, a proof of arbitrariness.Grammatical structures are just as arbitrary; for instance, the English language uses mainly a subject-verb-object structure while the German language puts verbs at the end of the sentence, etc.
What is bloch's ande targer's definition of language?
Bloch and Trager define language as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols that are used for human communication. They view language as a rule-governed system with a finite set of elements that can be combined to produce an infinite array of meaningful utterances.
Why can not be a language fully arbitrary?
Because it would be incomprehensible. Take all the sounds that people are capable of making, make sound bites out of them and randomly associate them. What do you have? Meaningless noise. It is because we learn which sounds not to make, which combinations of sounds do not make words, and which combinations of words do not make coherent sentences, and to discard the meaningless sounds, words, and sentences that we are able to use language at all. For example, your question does not use proper grammar, but an English speaker automatically corrects it to say "Why can a language not be fully arbitrary?" It's wrong but not arbitrary, because it is close to the correct sentence. Had you written "Language not be a fully arbitrary can why?" it is so wrong that nobody would understand it.
What is language according to 'bloch and trager'?
a system of arbitrary vocal symbol by means a social group operates
