W H AT IS

LA N G U A G E

Language is a symbolic system we create for communicating our ideas

,experiences,emotions and anything else that we wish to convey to

other people. The symbols or codes used in a particular language are
really arbitary in nature, but because they have come to understood
by all members of a particular community, these codes now carry
meaning.
For example: cat
The word heard and said is merely a code for the EL that is understood
to mean?

Comunication is successful when the party that wants message using

the correct rules and the receiving party can understand the codes to
get the message.
Example in oral form the person who produces it is the speaker and
the person receives it is the listener.

Language can also be coded using written symbols. The person

producing in this form is the writer while the person receiving it is the
reader.

The Communiction Process

Message

Sender

Speaking

Receiver

Sound
waves

Encoding skills
Writing

Light
waves

Listening
Decoding
skills
Reading

Message

The Integrated Language System

Listening

Speaking

Integrated
Language
system

Writing

Reading

Components of Language
Semantics
1. - refers to a meaning. When we convey a message, we wish the
receiver or
listener to understand the meaning of the message.
2. Very basic level, words in message are labels representing objects,
concepts, ideas
and experiences. Example: table
3. Sometimes meaning is not conveyed directly. When we sayrainin g
cats and dogs
the meaning of the phrase cannot be taken literally.
eg: She such as an angel
Phonology
4. The language we hear has an organized sound system and we use
the term
phonology to refer to this component of language.
eg: cat although heard as one sound, is actually a combination of
three
different units of speech sound units known as phonemes.
2. Many of the sound units or phonomes are rather similar. Eg: /t/

Morphology
1.
Refers to the structural system of a word used to convey
for meaning.
eg: cats actually convey with two meanings and not
one.
i. domestic animal, sounds meow
ii.The s at the end of the word cat- more than one
2. We have many of these meaning indicators in the English
Language.
3. Those meaning indicators,which are actually the smallest
units of meaning are termed morphomes
Syntax
4. Whwn we formulate a sentences to convey a message or an
idea, the order of words in sentences is actually ordered or
organized according to certain rules of language.
5. The rules govern the arrangement of words in a sentences
are termed syntax.
Eg:She ate some sweets yesterday and not She some
sweets ate yesterday
subject- ?
Object-?
verb-?
Past/presence/future tense-?

matics

Once a person has become conversant with the four components of language
discussed above,he will be able to engage himself competently in a
communicative situation.
will be able to use language for different purposes.
can use language to inform, to inquire ,to express his feelings and opinions,
apologize and to communicate whatever it is that he wishes to communicate.
is functional use of language is termed pragmatics.
agmatics also covers behaviours that are regarded as appropriate or not
propriate in a communicative situation.