M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

1.3.2 General Features of Human Language 
Each definition provides us one or more features of human language. 
Following is a list of general features of human language extracted from the 
above definitions.
a) 
Language is a means of communication. Speakers of a particular 
language express their ideas, opinions and feelings in the language. 
they express themselves precisely in that language.
b) 
Basically language is vocal. It makes use of sounds.
c) 
It is a non-instinctive phenomenon. It comes to us through 
conventions. It is transmitted from one generation to the next and to 
the next. Thus, some conventions are added to it and some are 
removed from it as per the needs of communication.

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d) 
It is symbolic as it makes use of symbols that are potentially 
meaningful. However, it is further realised that meanings are assigned 
to these symbols by human mind.
e) 
It is a social phenomenon. We learn and use language in society.
f) 
Language is specially a human phenomenon. Other animals have 
different systems of communication.
g) 
It is arbitrary in the sense that we cannot logically answer questions 
‘why’ and ‘how’ for every aspect of language.
h) 
Language is structurally complex. The length of the sentence may be 
short or long as per requirement of data to be communicated.
i) 
Language is an open-ended communicative system. Words can be 
added or removed from the language. It is modifiable as we see 
differences in spellings of the same words in different historical period. 
1.3.3 Languages in Contact 
At present more than six thousand languages are spoken all over the 
world. Each language differs from all other languages in some linguistic 
aspect. In a very conventional expression in India, it is said that a language 
changes at a distance of around fifty kilometres. It can be easily noticed that 
there is change sometimes in tone, sometimes in intonation pattern, some 
words are added, some words are different, and so on. Some type of change 
is noticed. All languages show some noticeable difference when they come in 
contact with other languages.

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a)