In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of linguistic principles, exploring how they shape our language and impact our daily communication The linguistic principles can be described as follows :
To present linguistic principles in a tabular form, we would typically organize the information into categories such as the principle’s name, a brief description, examples, and perhaps its relevance or applications.
Here’s a simplified example:
| Principle Name | Description | Example | Relevance/Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phonetics | Study of speech sounds and their production. | The sound of “th” in “this”. | Speech therapy, language learning |
| Syntax | Rules for constructing sentences in a language. | Subject-Verb-Object structure in English sentences. | Language teaching, computational linguistics |
| Semantics | The study of meaning in language. | The meaning of the word “blue” in different contexts. | Natural language processing, lexicography |
| Pragmatics | How context affects language use and understanding. | Saying “It’s cold” to suggest closing a window. | Social communication, artificial intelligence |
| Sociolinguistics | Examining language use in social contexts. | Variations in language use based on region or social group. | Cultural studies, language policy |
| Morphology | Study of the structure of words and word formation. | Formation of the word “unhappiness” from “happy”. | Language development, computational linguistics |
This table represents a basic framework and can be expanded or modified to include more principles, detailed descriptions, more complex examples, and a broader range of applications or relevance in various fields.
Language is a system :
Language is a system like that of the human body. The system of the body functions through various organs such as the heart, the lungs etc. The system of language functions through three constituents, e.g. the sounds, the structures and the words. There cannot be any utterance without making use of sounds, structures or vocabulary.
In fact, language is a system of systems. It is a system of phonological, grammatical and lexical systems. The whole system of language cannot be taught whatever the number of years devoted to its study. So the principle that language is a system stresses the importance of selection and gradation of language material. It is because of this reason that in structural approach, the structures and vocabulary items are carefully selected and graded.
The system of language is arbitrary :
There is no relationship between a particular symbol and the object denoted by it. For example, why do we call a particular object ’tree’ or another object ’stone’? There is no relationship between the symbol ’tree’ and the object denoted by it. The same is true in the case of’ stone’ or other items of vocabulary. It is a matter of convention. Once the convention is set, it is not for the individual to break it.The same is true of question and answer forms. Why is it that “Is this a tree?” is a question, and “This is a tree,” a statement. It is also a matter of convention.
Language is a system of symbols:
Symbols are representations of things rather than the things themselves. The word ‘boy’ is not a boy. It stands for a boy. Language functions best only when the symbols are known to the speaker and the listener, the writer and the reader.
The symbols of language are vocal:
Language uses vocal symbols which are made up of speech sounds. These sounds are produced by human beings through various movements of the vocal organs.
The child is not born with the skill of speaking. Up has to acquire it after he is born. If a child were to be isolated from society or brought up in the company of deaf people, he would not be able to pick up any language. We know that children pick up languages by listening to their parents, relatives and friends. They put in strenuous efforts to learn their mother tongue.
Since language is a learned activity, we have to teach it and teach it properly.
Language is for communication:
The chief purpose of language is communication. We use language to inform others, to ask them to do certain things or to express our feelings or emotions. For this purpose it is important that we acquire the right type of pronunciation which is intelligible to others. Teachers should, therefore, pay attention to correct speech on the part of students.
Language is related to the culture in which it exists :
A language is the product of a particular society and culture. It has meaning only in relation to that society and culture. The Eskimos, for example, have so many different words in their language for ‘snow’. It is because ‘snow’ plays an important part in their lives. But other speakers do not have that number of words for ‘snow’. In England to ask a person his salary is considered ill- mannered, but it is not so in Pakistan The way of greeting, saying thanks etc. are different in different countries. It is because of cultural differences.
While learning a foreign language, a person does not only learn that language but he also gets acquainted with the culture of the people whose language he is learning. The cultural aim of teaching a language cannot be ignored.
Language is made up of habits :
According to Jesperson, “Language is a set of human habits, the purpose of which is to give expression to thoughts and feelings.” The system of language is to be mastered at the habit level. When a person speaks his mother tongue, he does not consider the position of the various speech organs while
making the meaningful noises. Nor does he think of the ways in which he is putting various words to form sentences. It is because speaking has become a matter of habit with them. No person can be said to have learnt a language unless he master it at the habit level.
The implication of this principle is that the students should be provided intensive practice in the use of language The teacher should provide opportunities to the students to use the language.
Language is social behavior:
The features of language are not inherited in the biological sense, that is, heredity does not predispose a person to learn one language more easily than another. Language is social behavior. A child picks up the language of his environment. If a child born in Sind is brought up in London, he will pick up English, but if he is taken away to Moscow, he will learn Russian.
Language is unique:
Each language is unique. No two languages have the same sound, grammatical or lexical systems. All languages differ in these respects. So fresh efforts have to be made to learn a language.
Language changes:
Language is not static. A living language like human beings, changes. If we study the history of any language, we shall notice the numerous changes that have taken place in it over the years.
Changes take place in all aspects of language. This is more so in the case of vocabulary. Words come and go. They are born and die. Words are invented according to need. We have noticed that thousands of words have been added to J Urdu language after Independence. English too has borrowed words from various languages. Besides this, words change their meaning from time to time. The word sad once meant ‘full to the brim’, ‘well-fed’. Then it meant ‘solid’. Later on, it was applied to a person who was reliable and firm. Then it got its present meaning.