LANGUAGE AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

Language holds a very important place in our lives. It is fundamental communicates.

to everything we do. Without language, human civilization, as we To sum up, we can say that in spite of there being a number of other
know it, would have remained an impossibility. non- verbal & non -linguistic signs to facilitate communication, none
In spite of the varied opinions about the origin of language, one of them is so flexible, perfect, and extensive as language is. Language
thing that is quite clear is that it is present everywhere in our lives. . is the best means of self- expression. Most of the activities in the
It is a very complex phenomenon. It is a systematic means of world are carried on with the help of language. It is chiefly through
communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols. language that human inter-action takes place. It is the language that
So, the primary purpose of language is communication. It transmits yokes the past, the present and the future also by serving as a means
information from a source to a receiver, operating with a set of signals, each of communication.
signal having an arbitrary yet conventionally determined value. But
language is not only a means of communication; it serves some other major
Language holds a very important place in our lives. It is fundamental
functions also. to everything we do. Some say it's what makes us "human". With the
birth of human beings, language also came into existence. Broadly,
Furthermore, language is not the only means of communication.
this term can be defined as a means of communicating or expressing
There are some nonverbal signs such as eye- contact, facial
one’s ideas or feelings. Without language, human civilization, as we
expressions, tone of voice, gestures, appearance, speed & physical
know it, would have remained an impossibility
touch also that serve as the means of communication. Even silence

The Origin of Language:- Hindu tradition, language came from the goddess Sarasvati, wife
There are several speculations about the origin of language. Plato of Brahma, creator of the universe.
thought that there was a ‘perfect’ language which all human Language as a Means of Communication: -
beings were striving to rediscover. Some others thought that God Language is a very complex phenomenon. All attempts to define
said, ‘Let there be language’ and there was language. Socrates it have proved inadequate. Broadly, it can be defined as an
concluded that onomatopoeic imitation was the basis for the organized noise used is actual social situations. We know that all
origin of language. Some others speculated that man's instinctive animals engage in some form of social communication. Humans,
response to certain external stimuli was the basis for the origin of as well as other primates, share many advantages due to their
language. Max Muller said, “It is quite clear that we have no intrinsic ability to communicate; however, the former have
means of solving the problem of the origin of language arrived at an unprecedented position in the food chain because
historically”. There have been views about the divine sources of of the inevitable benefits culminated from their ability to create a
the origin of language also. According to one view, God created language.
Adam and "Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that Language is a systematic means of communicating by the use of
was the name thereof.” (Genesis 2:19) Alternatively, following a sounds or conventional symbols.

1.Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English defines emotions and desires by means of a system of voluntarily
language as a human and non-instinctive ( hindi likas na likas) method produced symbols".
of communicating ideas, feelings by means of a system of 4.Language, as defined by Bloch & Trager in Outline of Linguistic
sounds & sound symbols." Analysis, is …a system of arbitrary vocal symbols, by means of
2.In the Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. XIII, language is defined as, which a social group co-operates”.
"a system of conventional spoken or written symbols by means 5.According to Hall (Essay on Language) , language is,
of which human beings, as members of a social group and "…the institution whereby humans communicate and interact
participants in its culture, communicate". with each other by means of habitually used oral, auditory,
3.E. Sapir, in his book Language, defines language as a purely arbitrary, symbols".
human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas,

From the above definitions, it is clear that the primary purpose of language is communication. It is a non-instinctive method of
communicating human experiences by means of a system of voluntarily produced signals. It is the most powerful, convenient and
permanent means and form of communication. It transmits information from a source to a receiver, operating with a set of signals each
signal having an arbitrary yet conventionally determined value. The message that the speaker wants to convey to the listener is encoded as
signals and put into a channel. The signals are then received, identified, and interpreted by the decoder. This is how communication takes
place.

Is Language only a Means of Communication?

No species other than humans has been endowed with the gift of language. Language is human and exists in a human society. Although the
primary purpose of language is communication, yet it is not merely a means of communication. It serves three other functions also. In
 LANGUAGE AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
addition to the role of language in interpersonal communication, we can look to its role within individual humans. Succinctly,( Tumulong sa)
language within the individual supports thought, rationalization and attribution, creativity, memory, self-direction, self-expression, humor,
and perhaps even aspects of consciousness.
Secondly, language has the quality of displacement. It allows the user to refer to past & future time, & to other locations, to talk about
things and events not present in the immediate environment. It enables us to talk about things and places whose existence we cannot even
be sure of. We can refer to mythical creatures, demons, fairies, angels, Santa Claus, and recently invented characters such as Superman. It
is this quality of displacement that allows the humans, unlike any other creatures to create fiction and to describe possible future worlds.
Thirdly, language is culture preserving and culture-transmitting. That is why once Descartes said, ‘Thanks to language, Man became Man’.
Although there are other forms of culture preservation such as architecture, painting, music etc, yet language is the most dynamic form
through which culture is preserved and transmitted to future generations.
As communication is a process of transferring information from one source to another, language is not the only means of communication.
Communication is often defined as “the imparting or inter-change of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs".

As effective communication does not always depend on the use of verbal signs, there are several means of communication other than
language in the form of non verbal signs as listed below:
1. Eye- contact 6. Proximity
2. Facial expressions 7. Appearance
3. Tone of voice 8. Silence
4. Head-position -gestures 9. Speed
5. Body Posture 10. Physical touch

Non- verbal communication includes the way we speak and move, our gestures, the physical distance between the speaker and the hearer
and facial expressions etc. The most powerful trigger that we present to others is not what we say but our face expressions. Our face is the
true index of our mind. We cry, sob, scream and use other primitive sounds as well as gestures and bodily movements. We use body
language like closing and opening of the eyelids, winking, blinking, movements of the hands etc also.

As one cannot not communicate, our silence also communicates. In other words there is communion in silence. We must know when to say
nothing since flashes of silence make communication delightful. There is a time for speaking and a time for being silent. In the words of
Carlyle, “Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves”.

Animal Communication and Human Language:-

So, language is not the only means of communication. There are so many other nonverbal means to facilitate the act of communication,
Moreover, communication in many of its facets is not limited to humans or even to its primates only. Every information exchange between
living organisms - i.e. transmission of signals involving a living sender and receiver - can be considered a form of communication. Thus,
there is a broad field of animal communication denoting any behavior on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future
behavior of another animal.
But Human communication can be subsumed as a highly developed form of animal communication.
Animals cannot acquire human language because of its complex structure and their physical inadequacies. Animals do not have the type of
brain which the human beings possess and their articulatory organs are also very much different from those of human beings.
In order to communicate with each other, animals cry, hoot, bleat and quack, but their system of communication has no internal structure
other than that involved in the actual physical production of signals. The number of signals used is limited; their performance therefore is
repetitive. None of the animal languages can even remotely approach the variety and complexity of human language. Animal
communication is a closed system, unextendable and unmodifiable, and lacks the variety of human communication. On the other hand,
human language is open ended, extendable, modifiable, structurally complex, and a far better means of communication.
Conclusion
Although language is not the only means of communication among human beings, there being a number of other non linguistic symbols
such as expressive gestures, singing, dancing, acting , drawing, painting, carving in wood, traffic lights, road signals, flags, short hand, the
deaf & dumb and Braille alphabets, the symbols of mathematics and logic etc, yet they are not so flexible, perfect & extensive as language
is. These systems of communication operate with very limited sets of signals. Language is the best means of self-expression. It is through
language that humans express their thoughts, desires, emotions and feelings. It is also through language that they store knowledge,
transmit messages, transfer knowledge & experience form one person to another and from one generation to another. Most of the activities
in the world are carried on with the help of language. It is through language that human inter-action chiefly takes place. It is the language
that yokes the past, the present and the future also by serving as a means of communication.
 LANGUAGE AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

Difference between language and communication

While communication refers to the exchange of message or information from one person to another, either verbally or non-verbally. On
the other hand, language is a method of human communication or the system through which two people interact. It is used in a particular
region or community, to convey a message to one another with the use of words. In this article we will elaborate here the difference
between language and communication.

In the communication process, language plays an important role. In fact, all living beings in this world communicate in their
own language. These two terms are so closely intertwined that people cannot easily recognize their difference and end up using them
synonymously. But in reality, there is a fine line of difference between language and communication.
Language Definition
Comparison chart
Language is described as a tool that helps in the transmission
Basis for Language Communication of feelings and thoughts from one person to another. It is the
Comparison
means of expressing what a person feels or thinks, through
Meaning Language implies Communication refers
the communication system to the way of symbols or arbitrarily produced sounds, such as words (spoken or
which is based on the exchanging messages written), signs, sounds, gestures, postures, etc., which convey a
verbal or non-verbal codes or information certain meaning. Language is the only means
used in the transfer of between two or more
of communication between two people, through which they can
information. people.
share their views, ideas, opinions and emotions with each other. It
What is it? Tool Process
stresses in Signs, words and symbols message is intended to make sense of complex and abstract thinking and
Occurs in First, in the ear canals All sensory channels also without confusion. As a communication system, different
change Dynamic Static languages are used by people who reside in different areas or who
belong to a different community.
Communication Definition Communication is a pervasive process, that is, it is necessary at
Communication is described as an act of exchanging ideas, all levels and types of the organization. It is a two-way activity,
information or messages from one person or place to another, which consists of seven main elements, namely, sender,
through words or signs that are understood by both encoding, message, channel, receiver, decoding,
parties. Communication is vital to the organization because it is a and feedback. Getting feedback in the communication process is
primary means by which the organization’s members work with just as important as sending the message, because only then is
one another. It flows in various directions such as up, down, the process complete. There are two communication channels,
horizontally or diagonally. which are:
1.Formal Communication
2.Informal Communication
In addition, communication can be classified as:
 Verbal communication
 Oral communication
 Written communication
Non verbal communication
Main differences between language and communication
The points presented below present the differences between language and communication in detail:
1. The communication system that is based on the verbal or non-verbal codes used in the transfer of information is called Language. The way
of exchanging messages or information between two or more people is called communication.
2. A language is a communication tool, while communication is the process of transferring messages between each other.
3. Language focuses on signs, symbols and words. Communication emphasizes the message.
4. Before the invention of written words, language was confined to the ear canals. However, it can occur in visual, tactile and other sensory
channels as well. On the other hand, communication takes place on all sensory channels.
5. The fundamentals of communication do not change anything. On the other hand, new daily words are added to the language dictionary,
so it changes every day.