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

Sculpture, Sculpture: Three-dimensional art produced especially by forming...

Sculpture: Three-dimensional art produced especially by forming hard or plastic materials into three-dimensional objects, usually by carving or modeling. The designs may be produc

I Need The answer , Most of the major groups of animals appeared after what...

Most of the major groups of animals appeared after what event?

Describe the term supervision, Question 1: (a) Explain the five main pu...

Question 1: (a) Explain the five main purposes of code of ethics in counseling. (b) Explain how attitude and orientation of a counselor in any psychotherapy is of highly i

What is global warming?, Effect of global warming, Write an essay on global...

Effect of global warming, Write an essay on global warming, It must be free from plagiarism. Why global warming occurs...

PHED final exam, FINAL PRACTICUM EXAM Read your exam directions carefully t...

FINAL PRACTICUM EXAM Read your exam directions carefully two and three times, please, all the information you will ask questions about are written here. As an individual, you ar

Differenttypes of regime and their effects on environmental, what are the a...

what are the advantages and disadvantages on different types of property regimes and their effects on environmental resource management

Cross curricular , How have people coped through history with the hazards t...

How have people coped through history with the hazards they have faced in life

Pragmatism, what is ''pragmatism'' and what should be the role of a teacher...

what is ''pragmatism'' and what should be the role of a teacher according to it?

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