• Education & Reference >
  • Homework Help
  • Education & Reference >
  • Homework Help

What are/is the characteristics of language? Please answer I need it for my assignment! Thank You!!?

  • Follow publicly
  • Follow privately
  • Unfollow
Best AnswerAsker's Choice
  • Nice answered 7 years ago
Here you are:

1. language is a system: it has different linguistic levels (phonological, related to phonemes, intonation and rhythm; lexical semantic, which have to do with lexis, that is, the words, and their meaning (semantics); syntactical, that is, the rules of grammar; discourse, written language; conversation, that is, the characteristics of spoken discourse (turn-taking, use of words, etc.); sociolinguistic (social factors, such as educational level, age, ethnic, sex, etc.);

2. language is dynamic: it changes constantly; words and meanings may even vary from one generation to the other (cf. "cool" and "hot");

3. dialects (language regional variation): varieties of the same language (such as English) are spoken in the same country (Southern English vs. Northern English); there are also differences between countries (USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia, etc.) and different dialects as well (India, etc.);

4. sociolect (language social variations): language may vary depending on the speaker's social class;

5. idiolect (individual language characteristics): it is like the language DNA, that is, no two people speak exactly in the same way; there are variations such as voice quality, pitch and speech rhythm; there are also variations such as choice of words, use of grammar, etc.

Asker's rating & comment

5 out of 5
Thanks, I Appreciated it ore if you answered it earlier but tnx again!!! :- )
  • 0
    0
  • Comment

Other Answers (1)

  • Nguto answered 3 months ago
    language is interchangebility_this means that th speakercan both receive and broadcast the same signals.any person using language can both send and receive message by speaking and being understand
    • 0
      0
    • Comment
  • What are/is the characteristics of language? Please answer I need it for my assignment! Thank You!!?
    Sign In 

    to add your answer

1

Who is following this question?

    %
    BEST ANSWERS
    Member Since:
    Points: Points: Level
    Total Answers:
    Points this week:
    Follow
     
    Unfollow
     
    Block
     
    Unblock