Lingusitics

Linguistics

                                                           Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language. The study of language must begin with certain idea about language. Language is perhaps the most interesting entity that mankind has ever come across. We use language for communicating our thoughts and feelings with others and the language we use is transmitted from generation to generation without much deliberate effort on our part. Those who have not studied language systematically do use language with much ease and they are never bothered about the complexities of the ways in which the constituent elements of language combine and organize to make meaningful utterances. This fact does not make us come to the conclusion that the systematic and scientific study of language is meaningless. The study of language is significant as it ultimately takes us to the beginnings of our culture and social life. Language has become an essential part of our lives. The study of language in a scientific and systematic way is therefore, significant both in terms of academic and cultural point of view. Language occupies an important place in the lives of human beings. Language is the very medium of expression. The everyday activities of life are sure to come to an end unless language functions as a means of communication. Language is inextricably tied up with the social and cultural evolution of mankind. Language is as familiar to us as the air we breathe or the saliva that we carry in our mouth. So we are hardly conscious of its significance. However, the effects of language are most remarkable. It is in fact language that distinguishes human beings from the animals. C. L. Barber rightly remarked: “Language is the most remarkable tool that man has invented and is one that makes all other possible” 

DEFINITIONS OF LANGUAGE
                                              Language is a means of communication. It is a means of conveying our thoughts, ideas, feelings, and emotions to other people. However, language is not the only means of communication. Signs, gestures and facial expression can also communicate our thoughts and ideas. Language is different from signs and gestures, because it employs speech sounds. These speech sounds have meaning. To define language is not an easy task. Different linguists tried to define language variously. However, if we analyse the definitions closely, we will find that each of these definitions is incomplete in some respect or the other. These definitions will raise a large number of questions. 

language and its significance
Define Language