Introduction to Language as a WOK

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3. Use the last slide to write at least 2 generalisations about language - you can write more if you want to flex your conceptual thinking muscles!

A generalisation is a statement that is true across time and context. It is stated in the present as it should always be true, not just in one situation or at a particular time. If I choose the concepts LANGUAGE and LEARNING, I can produce the following generalisation: "Language allows us to discuss, explore and reflect on our learning." As you can see, this is true across all time and in all contexts. (Even if people don't do it, they still could if they chose to.)

After our discussion on "what is language?" on Monday,  I pondered on my things. However, not before I thought on my own definition of "language" itself. I started out almost black and white with just a:

"Language is a mean of communicating through speech and writing"

Later on, I improvised and wrote:

"Language is a mean of communication through ubiquity commonality."

What made me change my idea? Well simply because there was so much debating going on that all these influx of ideas and debate from my peers simply made it clear- language is not JUST that.

Our discussions developed from language being ALL forms of communication as language also include body language and sign language hence we chucked that idea. We further refined language to as a mean of communication only by humans that is expressed through verbal and written form as humans do not only communicate like animals for survival means, but we also develop artistic expressions through speech and writing.

We assume that at the moment, animals have yet to develop these creative expressions through language as we humans do hence language is still limited to humans at the moment.

Generalizations

1. The more languages you speak, the more people you can communicate with.
2. Language limits the way you think.