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

Indwelling and intermittent catheterisation, Intermittent catheterisation (...

Intermittent catheterisation (IC) has a lower risk of infection compared with indwelling catheterisation, and so should be considered in preference to an indwelling catheter. Inter

Impact of b2b markets on the economy of developing countries, The impact of...

The impact of B2B markets on the economy of developing countries is marked in the following: T ransactio n costs - There is three cost areas that are considerably redu

What do you understand by amicus curiae, Question 1 Discuss any five salie...

Question 1 Discuss any five salient features of the American Constitution Question 2 Discuss solutions to Improving Centre State relations Question 3 The President has t

Maths studying help, when you have the perimeter of something, what are the...

when you have the perimeter of something, what are the names of the two lines that go over it like this --//--

Different transport modes, Provide some practical examples about different ...

Provide some practical examples about different transport modes

Applications of data encryption standard, Applications- Data encryptio...

Applications- Data encryption (cryptography) is utilized in a variety of environments and applications. The exact utilization of encryption and the implementation of the DES w

Anus, The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long...

The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2-inch long canal consisting of the pelvic floor muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and external). The lining o

Types of spatial analysis, Do you provide assignment help on Types of spat...

Do you provide assignment help on Types of spatial analysis ? Do you have experts in this topic? I have an assignment and it is tough to solve me. Please suggest me if you can giv

Destructive forces nature, wat are the major causes of destructive forces o...

wat are the major causes of destructive forces of nature?

History of archaeology , history of Archaeology More specifically, res...

history of Archaeology More specifically, research foci can include skeletal evidence for disease, chemical analyses relating to diet, the growth and maintenance of bones and

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