What is a Language - Essay Example

What is a Language? Introduction Trevor Pateman has ed a book by the of “Language in Mind andLanguage in Society” and the essay on ‘What is a Language’ is part of the same book. This essay seeks to address the language in terms of its real definitions and not only for knowing the verbal definitions. The author has tried to explain various principles and concepts of a language, while considering the involvement of a speaker of the language, within the scope of such discussions. As the author identifies five responses to ’what is a language’, the essay makes reference to a text book, named “Chomskyan Linguistics”, written by Smith and Wilson in 1979, in which the two renowned linguists connect the language with rules that make the grammar of any language. They have further opined that, for example, in the English language, different speakers possess different levels of grammar and, thus, English would have not one but many grammars, as the same will be different for various individual speakers. Responding to the question ’what is a language’, the author has considered five answers. They include ‘NATURALISM’, meaning language is a natural kind; PLATONISM, which treats language as an abstract object; NOMINALISM, meaning that any set of objects would define the name of a language; SOCIOLOGISM, which places the language in the category of social facts and DUALISM, which agrees to the language being a social fact, while disagreeing with the argument that the particular social fact could also be the linguistic fact. While discussing all answers, with arguments for and against five positions, the author has staked its claim to last option, saying that linguistic facts cannot be, necessarily, social facts also, thus, negating SOCIOLOGISM. Author further states that the option of NATURALISM is partially compatible with the last answer, DUALISM. (Pateman) Languages as natural kinds The author has dismissed the claim that languages belong to natural kinds, by saying that other natural facts in this world cannot be counted in the same group, although all of them may belong to natural kinds only. The fact is exemplified by different natural products like tigers and lemons, both of which are from nature, but are entirely different. Further, diversifying on the discussion, the author has stressed that definition of language has the relation to the environment that surrounds the speaker. Pateman has given an example of Creoles, who find no use of their native language in the new environment; like the ‘plantation workers’. Languages as abstract objects The author has referred to the theory put forward by Chomsky, which treats linguistics as a science, like neurology and psychology. Further, there are references to arguments put forward by Katz, which treat languages and sentences as mathematical abstract objects, while employing ‘general scientific methodology’ to support this claim. Pateman has countered Katz’s argument by relating the properties of sentences and language with grammar, in abstraction, which can be viewed as mathematical grammarian abstract objects, while having no reality. (Pateman) Languages as names Many sociolinguists have related languages with the spoken dialects and social facts of the speakers. Accordingly, the author of this article refers to Smith and Wilson, informing in their text book that dialect and language correspond to each other, when the speakers having similar grammar, for any language, are grouped together. However, Pateman counters this argument by saying that there is no relation of language with an individual, as its name is taken from the dialect, which speakers can formulate for construction of a language. Languages as social and linguistic facts The author describes about relationship between the groups of a social class and the language spoken by them. For example, members of a church belong to the same social group and may speak the same dialect or language. Hence, the idea of languages being social facts, which are linguistic facts also, becomes relevant. However, the author counters by saying that, in this example, members of the church may be speaking different languages. Then the social facts of this group cannot be linguistic facts also. (Pateman) Languages as social facts, which are not linguistic facts The author, while agreeing with Chomsky, has stressed that languages have socio-political nature, as language is an object of mutual belief. To support this claim, the author gives an example that if a speaker is asked about the language he speaks, he may answer, saying in English. However, truth is, the speaker believes that he speaks English. Hence, this sociopolitical fact relates to the linguistic fact of his spoken language. The author further argues that the intentional mutual belief of a group of speakers becomes the linguistic fact. For example, a German native speaker, while in an English class, would say he speaks English, because it is the mutual belief of all the students in this class. The author has further supported his claim, by providing number of advantages, when languages are seen as intentional objects of mutual belief. These include various English speakers having different understanding of grammar, at individual level; while the understanding of language can be changed and improved upon. According to Pateman, the intentionalist approach to language reality enables different participants relating to their social and cultural backgrounds, as they speak the language. (Pateman) Practical examples supporting this claim In the present world, where technology has made it possible to go beyond the borders of our social and cultural ethnicity; the concepts of social and linguistic facts are changing. For example, any non-English speaker can interact with a native English speaker on Face-book, and the whole conversation is in English. Hence, the linguistic facts relate to the social facts in a different manner, in such cases. The intentional approach to our mutual belief that we all are speakers of English, on Face-book, would mean that people from different social backgrounds are speaking German English, French English, and Indian English and so on. Word Count: 973 Work Cited Pateman, Trevor. “What is a Language?” Selected Works, UK, 2006. Web. 23 May 2013. Read More