Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

Language is a means of communication. As a vehicle of communication, language is seen as an arbitrary system that allows to transmit representations to others. According to Encyclopedia Britannica” language is a system of conventional spoken or written symbols by means of which human beings, as member of a social group and participants in its culture communicate”. Also, Henry Sweet sees language as “the expression of ideas by means of speech sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts” (qtd in Encyclopedia Britannica). Bernard Bloch & George Trager, see language as “a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group co-operate”

(qtd in  Encyclopedia Britannica).  Language is the expression of one thought by means of words. By means of language, man is able to inform, express his feelings and emotions, to influence the activities of others and to comport himself with varying degrees of friendliness or hostility towards others. Language is human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, feelings and desires.These ideas and feelings are based on one’s environment and therefore on one’s culture. Language then can be defined as human culture expressed in words. It can  also be viewed as the vehicle of culture.

The ability to speak or use a language does not only distinguish man from animals, but identifies him as higher than other creatures living on the surface of the earth. Thus language is species-specific to man. According to the Bible, God created Adam and endowed him with the ability to speak” and whatever the man would call each living soul (creature), that was its name”(New World Translation of The Holy Scriptures, Genesis 2:19). If language is human culture expressed in words, the English Language expresses English culture in words. Culture is therefore language imbued and personified.

However, every human language is distinctive. This means that every language has laid down structures which distinguishes it from other languages. Thus, language as a system consists of so many components that make meaning possible. Emphasizing one of its sub-systems, Bolinger says:

Human language is a system of vocal arbitrary communication, using signs composed of arbitrary patterned sound units and assembled according to set of rules, interacting with the

experiences of its users. (12)

Language, according to Bolinger is rule-governed – whether spoken or written. Every element has its distributional properties which makes interaction possible. 

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