Language and Communication

Sonia Haridas
29/1/2022
UCSI College- TESOL PROGRAM
Discussion Questions
1.Write what you consider to be a
good definition of the term
language. Justify the choice of
the elements that you have
incorporated in your definition.​
2.How well, in your opinion, does
the word communication
represent the function of human
language? Elaborate.​
.

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 Language & Communication
LANGUAGE COMPONENTS COMMUNICATION COMPONENTS

Syntax

Phonology Morphology

Adapted from :Components

of Language-- Dr. M. Enamul Adapted from : Maximum
Hoque Semantics Advantage- Communication
https://www.researchgate.n Skill
et/publication/327230822_ http://
Components_of_Language--
_Dr_M_Enamul_Hoque Pragmatics www.maximumadvantage.c
om/communication-skills/

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Language
My opinion about a good definition of the term language
Language
Many languages to explain the
same idea or meaning.

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 Language – The Knowledge
The usage of language enables the speaker to not only convey their message to the recipient but also in turn the speaker becomes the recipient
themselves by understanding another person’s message as well. This could be done with the correct usage of words by forming sentence
structures that is understood by both speaker and recipient. ( Murray & Chapey, 2001; Tomasello, 2008 cited by Andrews & Botting , 2020)

Prieur et.al (2020,p 532) quoted “ …human language is that it is learned through socially mediated interactions, culturally transmitted over
generations, and varies substantially within and among human societies”.

The knowledge of a/ many languages has been always proven to be positive in a person’s life in terms of gaining education, workplace relation
and even within the society they live in. (Feldman, 2019).

Various research that have been conducted have affirmed that, one can adapt easily in the sociocultural environment they are in when they
posses a strong language skill. (Ward & Geeraert, 2016 ;Ward & Kennedy, 1996 cited in Sari et al., 2019)

In order to acquire a particular language, we can learn even from a very early age. Children generally receive the first language knowledge from
their environment via the people around them. (Feldman, 2019).

Researchers have acknowledged that as one increases in age, the development of the language in terms of spoken and written forms also
expands. (Andrews & Botting , 2020).

Therefore, the knowledge of language(s) enables and smoothens the various forms of communication that takes place among people from the
same or various sociocultural backgrounds. (Eschback, Parker, & Stoeberl; 2001, Sari et al, 2019)

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Communication
It’s function for the language of humans.
Communication
Expressing or explaining the
meaning of what the language
conveys.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLqyKeMQfmY&t=19s

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Communication- Expressing ourselves
According to a research by Grice ( 1975) quoted by Andrews & Bottting (2020,p 919), “Communication means social skills including relevancy, taking turns,
gestures and seeing another’s viewpoint”.
 Another research has shown the connection of language and communication is either through speech (vocal theory) , gestures (gestural theory) or a combination
of both speech and gestures including facial expression and eye contact (multimodal theory). (Prieur et.al, 2020).

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists have identified a person experiencing communication difficulties include the following;
 “Problems with producing speech sounds accurately”
 “Stammering”
 “Voice problems such as hoarseness and loss of voice”
 “Problems understanding language”
 “Problems using language”
 “Problems interacting with people”
Quoted by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (2016); cited by Bloom et al (2020,p 308)

There has been a study indicating 16% of delays occur in the initial phase of language learning among children due to the lack of “language nutrition”. (Feldman,
2019).

This “language nutrition” is generally received through parent-child interactions, the type of language knowledge in terms of its grammar, vocabulary etc and the
amount of time spent, or routines done in engaging in symbols ( alphabets, words, visuals), giving feedback to the child and reflection on what has been learnt.
(Feldman, 2019).

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RESOURCES
1. Andrews, L. and Botting, N., 2020. The speech, language and communication needs of rough sleepers in London. International Journal of Language & Communication
Disorders, 55(6), pp.917-935. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/1460-6984.12572 [Accessed: 24 January 2022].

2. Prieur, J., Barbu, S., Blois‐Heulin, C. and Lemasson, A., 2019. The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories. Biological Reviews,
95(3), pp.531-554. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/brv.12576 [Accessed: 24 January 2022].

3. Feldman, H., 2019. The Importance of Language-Learning Environments to Child Language Outcomes. Pediatrics, 144(4).
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192157/38463/The-Importance-of-Language-Learning-Environments [Accessed: 24 January 2022].

4. Sari, B. T. et al. (2020) ‘The Importance of Language Vocabulary and Language Usage for Sociocultural Adjustment among Indonesian Adolescents from Three Bilingual
Ethnic Groups’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 41(6), pp. 531–546. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1261364&site=eds-live [Accessed: 24 January 2022].

5. Bloom, A. et al. (2020) ‘A critical review of methods for eliciting voice from children with speech, language and communication needs’, Journal of Research in Special
Educational Needs, 20(4), pp. 308–320. https://doi:10.1111/1471-3802.12491 [Accessed: 24 January 2022].

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 Thank you
Fun Fact:
All human languages are related to
one another. All of us in this world
are one big happy “chatter-box”
family.

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