Lecture № Formation and development of Linguistics. Functions of language Key words

LECTURE № 3.

Formation and development of Linguistics. Functions of language

Key words: communication, development, function, language, duality of pattern, meaningless sounds, social interaction, emotional expression, the development of society.

People have long been fascinated with the concept of interspecies communication. The prefix inter means between, and species means different kinds of animals. The similarities between animal and human communication can be found in the definition of the word communication itself. Communication includes the use of both signals and symbols. Signals are noises or gestures that have a clear meaning. They usually mean just one thing. They are used in the same situation every time. Animal and baby cries or laughing are a good example of signals in both humans and animals. So, there is a common ground. Both animal and human communication contains signals. On the other hand, human communication also uses symbols. Symbols consist of sounds or gestures that have different meanings for different groups of people. Symbols need to be learnt, and can have different meanings in different situations. For Charles Hockett, an important contemporary linguist, the most significant feature that marks human language is duality of pattern. Duality of pattern is the ability to make an unlimited number of meaningful words out of a limited amount of meaningless sounds. Animal communication does not have duality of pattern.

If we compare animal and human communication. Some people would argue that language is a uniquely human characteristic, and others would say that a number of other species also use a form of language. Although there is some similarity between animal and human communication, there are also crucial differences which make human language distinct. Firstly, we'll look at the similarities, and then at the differences. Finally, we'll see how these differences form a type of communication which is inaccessible to any other species.

If we speak about functions of language. There are five main functions which are common to all languages. Firstly, social interaction, a way of easy recording offacts, a means of storing information for future use, usually in written form. Thirdly, emotional expression, a way of expressing how we feel, including opinion and emotions. Fourthly, expression of identity, a way for a group of people who share similar views to show their similarity. Fifthly and finally, naming the world, a way of taking note and making sense of our environment.

As I said earlier, Panini is one of the first linguists. Panini lived in India in the 5th century BCE. He was interested in the structure of words, including prefixes and suffixes. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, first examined sentence parts in the 4th century BCE. Two centuries later, another Greek, Thrax, led one of the first real grammatical studies. However, it wasn't until the 6th century CE that the Greek influence reached the Romans. Other. Europeans waited until thel4th century to start analysing their languages. And it was not until after 1799, when the French discovered the Rosetta Stone, that people finally learnt how to decode the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphs. We have come a long way in a short period of time when you think that we now have access to electronic dictionaries and computer translation websites.

There are 5 functions of language. Let’s consider social interaction first. This is a way of easing relationships with others. Language is used to help build relationships or bridges between people.

For example, a group of schoolchildren using a type of slang common to young people might be building friendships within their group.

Secondly, recording of facts. This is information stored for future use. Such stored facts are necessary for the development of society. They help us to pass on information as well as to organize facts and data. We use language in this way to teach and learn.

Thirdly, emotional expression. We use language in this way to explore how we think and feel about ourselves and the world around us.

Self-control questions:

1. 
   Speak about the formation and development of Linguistics.
   
2. 
   What functions of language do you know?
   
3. 
   Speak about the causes of Motor Aphasia
   
4. 
   Speak about the spread of English
   

Suggestions for further reading:

1. 
   Ирисқулов М.Т. Тилшуносликка кириш. – Т.,2008.
   
2. 
   Йўлдошев И., Муҳаммедова С., Шарипова Ў., Маджидова Р. Тилшунослик асослари. – Т.,2007/2013.
   
3. 
   Муҳаммедова С., Йўлдошев И., Маджидова Р., Шарипова Ў., Тўхтаматов Х. Тилшунослик асослари. – Электрондарслик.
   
4. 
   Маслов Ю.С. Введение в языкознание. – М.,2007.
   
5. 
   Реформатский А. Введение в языкознание. – М.,2006.
   
6. 
   William B. McGregor. Linguistics. An introduction. – New York, Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2015. 430p.
   
7. 
   Keith Allan. The Oxford Handbook of the History of Linguistics, Oxford University Press London, 2013.