Bolosan, Nicole Ann PAG-AARAL NG WIKA AT KULTURANG REHIYONAL

Ratuita, Uzziehllah Jerwin R. Synthesis Paper

Regoris, Roderica Section 18
Sorsogon, Patricia Yael Saturday, 12:00-1:30
Language changes throughout time yet remains the same in the sense that it still has the
same purpose and function which is to communicate information. It is a network that links and
connects languages spoken differently, but at the same time is able to keep its integrity. And
because language adapts to the changes in society, it is a spectrum and not something that can just
be clearly distinguished--binary.
In a country where, according to Sehar Khan, there are approximately 175 languages that
exist as of this moment, it is still possible to achieve comprehension between two dialects by means
of achieving mutual intelligibility. Since a dialect is under one language, two groups having
different dialects may still be able to understand each other whereas if two groups of people use
different languages--communication becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible.
On the other hand, every individual has their own idiolect--a unique set of speech habits.
Therefore, no two individuals exactly have the same idiolect. The same goes for their parole
(speech); we all have different ways in how we execute language, depending on the situation.
Unlike idiolect which has a pattern, a person’s parole may be unpredictable, constantly adjusting
and adapting to the situation at hand.
On the contrary, in situations where similarities in their idiolect occur, it is what we call
speech variety. Its existence is most observable through people that live together or are in close
proximity with each other--those communities have a higher tendency to share their set of speech
habits. Furthermore, we’ve established that language is not static, it continues to change. One form
of change in language is through innovation where words or phrases or meanings are altered or
modified. Moreover, once this innovation rapidly spreads and is adapted by many, it eventually
establishes itself into the communities’ speech variety. Such innovations may be evident through
pronunciation, grammatical rules, and words being replaced. At the same time, change also
manifests when disturbances occur--language disturbance. These may be impairments or
interferences that affect one’s ability to communicate because of its spoken directions and
grammar.
Nowadays, there is a widespread of languages that are beginning to or have been
overlapping. Linguistic Convergence is the exposure or a close contact of two different languages
resulting in noticeable borrowings and code switchings. It is a necessity or utility for most users
toward a middle ground. But the convergence does not mean that a certain language dies and
becomes extinct. Instead, it links up between the two distinct languages because of influence and
adaptation. However, in cases where language is abandoned or no longer practiced it becomes a
dead language, yet there still remains documentation or evidence of its existence. Conversely,
when a language is untraceable (no record or trace of any kind), it is what we call language
extinction.
In the long run, language never stays the same because as mentioned above there are a lot of factors
that affect and change language, specifically the idiolect, parole, speech variety, language innovation,
language disturbance and language convergence. In our generation today, we have to be aware of this kind
of stuff about language in order for us to understand what language really is. For the reason that change
actually occurs every single day and this can be applied to language. As matter of fact, since we have
language, we also have the opportunity to learn and gain new knowledge. Language does not hinder us to
gain new learnings instead it opens us to a freedom to learn more.