Speech and Language, Other Subject

Assignment Help:
Language is a multifaceted and complex cognitive function

Imagine a situation where one is in a foreign country and cannot utter a word in the local tongue. Further, imagine that gesturing in that country would follow a peculiar logic of its own that one could not comprehend. Under such circumstances one quickly comes to realize the importance of being able to communicate with others, through speaking, gesturing, reading, and/or writing. Indeed, the seeming ease at which one normally commands one’s mother tongue is highly misleading. In reality, language is one of the most complex and amazing of human cognitive functions.


Difficulties in developing computer programs that would be able to command language well enough to carry a conversation with a human is one example of the complexity of the task that the brain faces when listening and speaking. Further, out of all species, mankind is the only one capable of the kind of highly sophisticated and abstract form of communication that language represents. To some extent it has been debated whether language is unique to humans (i.e., whether ”speech is special”) and there are language-like communicative calls and gesturing in other animals. The most striking manifestation of language ability in other species have been obtained in studies where sign language was taught to non-human primates (Gardner and Gardner, 1969), however, even the best of these examples fail to compare with the richness of human language.


Human language is a multifaceted skill. In order to communicate effectively, one has to know the meanings of different words (semantic knowledge) and have sufficient command of grammar to organize the words in an appropriate manner to be understood. Further, in order to read and write, one also has to have command of the orthographic (how words are written) and phonological (how words are pronounced) knowledge. With respect to this, there is variability between different languages, with prominent ambiguity in English (as there is no one-to-one correspondence between the written form and pronunciation) and non-ambiguous pronunciation in some other languages such as Italian and Finnish, where there is one-to-one correspondence between the written form and pronunciation.

Related Discussions:- Speech and Language

Clinical reasoning project, You will be presented with a three clinical pat...

You will be presented with a three clinical patient situations online via a digital story. Topics include; A diabetic patient A patient with COPD A patient requiring a

Languages in latin american cultures, Language Spanish is the most com...

Language Spanish is the most commonly used language in many Latin American countries. Portuguese is the main language of Brazil, and even French is spoken in some small parts

Medieval church and crusades, Hi i need help on how to write an anylitical ...

Hi i need help on how to write an anylitical essay on the topic above

Perform a goldfeld-quandt test, Perform a Goldfeld-Quandt test for heterosk...

Perform a Goldfeld-Quandt test for heteroskedasticity under the assumption the variance of the error increases with population density. Attach your results, and write out the form

Environmental assessment:, Environmental Assessment: An environmental asse...

Environmental Assessment: An environmental assessment is a study needed to establish all the influence either positive or negative regarding one particular project. It will contai

Major perspectives in sociology, Major Perspectives in Sociology: Sociolog...

Major Perspectives in Sociology: Sociologists analyze social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizatio

Overtaking maneuvers on single carriageway, Overtaking Maneuvers on Single ...

Overtaking Maneuvers on Single Carriageway The study circle around the overtaking maneuvers on single carriageway road section. The condition of the road sections must fulfill

Purpose of film theory, Purpose of Film Theory: The purpose of film theory...

Purpose of Film Theory: The purpose of film theory is to add to the critical film debate by making changes in the method of study of film and film analysis. It is a conglomerate o

Government, "The landmark abortion decision of Roe v. wade was?"

"The landmark abortion decision of Roe v. wade was?"

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd