Summary WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

UNIT 1
What is Language?
1.1 AN INTRODUCTION TO FOUNDATIONS IN APPLIED ENGLISH
LANGUAGE

Welcome to FOUNDATIONS IN APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE
STUDIES (ENG1502).

This module is an introduction to the English language. You will learn
terms and concepts that enable you to understand and describe language.

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

(1) Define what is language, and describe various definitions of language.
(2) Describe the functions of language.
(3) Explain the relevance/importance of English Language Studies.
(4) Use the knowledge gained to analyse a few texts.

(Zindela et. al., 2012: 1-2)

By working through your tutorial matter (study guide and textbooks), you
should be able to provide answers to these questions.

What is language?

Language is “the method of human communication, either spoken or
written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional
way.”1

What is communication?

Communication is “the imparting or exchanging of information by
speaking, writing, or using some other medium.”2

In order to communicate (for people to understand one another) we need
to use language in a structured manner.

Consider the following sentences:

a) I am happy because I ate chocolate.

b) Chocolate I happy I because ate am.

c) I ma ypahp cusebea I tae tealococh.