Language and Forms of Communication - Essay Example

Draft Language is the manner on how living creatures communicate with each other. They come in many forms. They could be the spoken language, sounds and symbols. Language are necessary for survival. Language can come through the spoken language. Humans communicate using the spoken language with the use of vocabularies, grammar and syntax. Noam Chomsky explained that this is so because of the human being’s brain structure that allows speech. Human beings also have vocal tracts that allows the use of spoken language. The spoken language is a uniquely human characteristic because other animals cannot use language “because they lack the human brain structures that create language. Our level of intelligence also allows us to use vocabularies or words that represents thoughts, grammar or proper rules of language and syntax the arrangement of sentences. Language assumes many forms the most common of which is the spoken language which human beings used because they have the brain structure and vocal tracts to do it. Other members of the animal kingdoms also use other forms of communications. Language is not only limited to the spoken language. Animals can also communicate with each other by sounds to survive. The vervets utter and respond to sounds appropriately in order to avoid predators. Animals mode of language is not only limited to sounds. They could also use symbols. Bonobos for example communicate with each other using road signs built of smashed plants. Most animals communicate through sounds and symbols but there are also indications that animals could also understand languages just like human does. There are indications that other animals could also learn to understand languages just like human beings. Studies were made with baboons if they could communicate using a keyboard of 400 symbols and found that they could learn to understand languages just human beings. Study showed that baboon can pick up words in a normal conversation. Researcher found Kanzi’s (a baboon) “understanding of new sentences to be about equal to that of a two-and-a-half-year-old-child. Noam Chomsky may disagree with this perspective saying that animals does not have the brain structure. Studies however showed that with the aid of keyboard, baboons can also communicate just like human beings albeit it is limited. Other animals learn language just like human beings although not as complex as our spoken words. Language can indeed assume many modes and forms because communication is necessary for living things not only to survive but to understand each other. Language comes in many forms because it is necessary for survival just like the vervets who need to communicate to avoid their predators. They are also needed to hunt and forage for foods just like the bonobos who uses symbols to communicate. Humans use the spoken language to communicate because their brain structure and vocal tract allows them to do so which other animals cannot do. Language is a matter of necessity. Living things on this planet uses language because they have to. Outline 1. Introduction – General statements, definitions of key terms, situation descriptions, opening quotations, etc. Language is the manner on how living creatures communicate with each other. a. Thesis Statement: Contains main arguments/points They come in many forms. They could be the spoken language, sounds and symbols. 2. Main Arguments Topic sentence: Language assumes in various forms in communicating. a. Argument One: Point Language can come through the spoken language. b. Argument One: Illustration (Quotation) Humans communicate using the spoken language with the use of vocabularies, grammar and synthax. Argument One: Explanation Noam Chomsky explained that this is so because of the human being’s brain structure that allows speech c. Argument Two: Point Human beings also have vocal tracts that allows the use of spoken language d. Argument Two: Illustration (Quotation) The spoken language is a uniquely human characteristic because other animals cannot use language “because they lack the human brain structures that create language. e. Argument Two: Explanation Our level of intelligence also allows us to use vocabularies or words that represents thoughts, grammar or proper rules of language and synthax the arrangement of sentences. f. Concluding sentence/bridge to Counter-Argument Language assumes many forms the most common of which is the spoken language which human beings used because they have the brain structure and vocal tracts to do it. Other members of the animal kingdoms also use other forms of communications. 3. Counter-Argument #1 a. Topic Sentence: Language is not only limited to the spoken language. b. CA #1: Main Point Animals can also communicate with each other by sounds to survive. c. CA #1: Support (could be quotation or explanation) The vervets utter and respond to sounds appropriately in order to avoid predators d. Refutation of CA #1 Animals mode of language is not only limited to sounds. They could also use symbols. e. Refutation #1 Support Bonobos for example communicate with each other using road signs built of smashed plants. f. Concluding sentence/bridge to Counterargument #2 (Optional if CA 1 & 2 = 1 paragraph) Most animals communicate through sounds and symbols but there are also indications that animals could also understand languages just like human does. 4. Refutations a. Topic Sentence: There are indications that other animals could also learn to understand languages just like human beings. b. CA #2: Main Point Studies were made with baboons if they could communicate using a keyboard of 400 symbols and found that they could learn to understand languages just human beings. c. CA #2: Support (could be quotation or explanation) Study showed that baboon can pick up words in a normal conversation. Researcher found Kanzi’s (a baboon) “understanding of new sentences to be about equal to that of a two-and-a-half-year-old-child. d. Refutation of CA #2 Noam Chomsky may disagree with this perspective saying that animals does not have the brain structure. e. Refutation #2 Support Studies however showed that with the aid of keyboard, baboons can also communicate just like human beings albeit it is limited. f. Concluding sentence/bridge to Conclusion Other animals learn language just like human beings although not as complex as our spoken words. 5. Conclusion a. Restate thesis in different words Language can indeed assume many modes and forms because communication is necessary for living things not only to survive but to understand each other. b. Summarize main ideas from the Main Arguments. (You don’t need to mention CAs) Language comes in many forms because it is necessary for survival just like the vervets who need to communicate to avoid their predators. They are also needed to hunt and forage for foods just like the bonobos who uses symbols to communicate. Humans use the spoken language to communicate because their brain structure and vocal tract allows them to do so which other animals cannot do. c. Final thought (prediction or recommendation, further synthesis of ideas, ‘so what?’) Language is a matter of necessity. Living things on this planet uses language because they have to. Read More