Langage Development Nature

Language is currently the primary method of imparting information; it has the ability to recapture and reproduce knowledge. It is common to all humans in spoken and in written form. The overwhelming power of language is shown through the efficiency and effectiveness of its use. Language is identified as a means to convey knowledge. William Whitney, a pioneer of linguistics, developed an intuitive conception of language which focuses on the role of language. While Noam Chomsky, an esteemed modern linguist, developed a formal conception of language which focuses on how it should be delivered. Their definition of language obviously diverges. Whitney highlights the importance of meaning in language whereas Chomsky puts emphasis on the necessity of grammar in language. A thorough examination of Whitney’s and Chomsky’s definition, language acquisition, and universal grammar reveals that Chomsky’s linguistic theory more accurately describes the nature of language.

There are multiple facets to defining the nature of language. Specifically, there are three views: the communicative, interactional and structural views of language. “The communicative, or functional view of language is the view that language is a vehicle for the expression of functional meaning (Richards and Rodgers 167).” In this sense, the primary objective of language is to communicate regardless of construction or phrasing; it purely serves as a tool of expression. For this reason, the communicative view is closely associated with the interactional view. This particular view understands “…language primarily as the means for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships and for performing social transactions between individuals (Richards and Rodgers 167).” The need for interaction is deeply embedded within human nature; therefore, the interaction view focuses on effectively imparting information to another person in order to build a social connection. This aspect is key to the acquisition of a language because a major use of language is to successfully instigate and maintain conversations. Language requires proper organization; without it, language would not be a successful means of communication. In the structural view, “…language is a system of structurally related elements for the transmission of meaning” that is composed of phonological units, lexical items, grammatical units and grammatical operations (Richards and Rogers 167). All of the preceding elements are fundamental to the composition of language. An individual must possess an expert grasp in employing the structural