A language is a structured system of communication used by humans. Languages can be based on speech and gesture (spoken language), sign, or writing. The structure of language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Many languages, including the most widely-spoken ones, have writing systems that enable sounds or signs to be recorded for later reactivation. Human language is unique among the known systems of animal communication in that it is not dependent on a single mode of transmission (sight, sound, etc.), is highly variable between cultures and across time, and affords a much wider range of expression than other systems.Human languages have the properties of productivity and displacement, and rely on social convention and learning.
Estimates of the number of human languages in the world vary between 5,000 and 7,000. Precise estimates depend on an arbitrary distinction (dichotomy) being established between languages and dialects. Natural languages are spoken, signed, or both; however, any language can be encoded into secondary media using auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli – for example, writing, whistling, signing, or braille. In other words, human language is modality-independent, but written or signed language is the way to inscribe or encode the natural human speech or gestures.
Depending on philosophical perspectives regarding the definition of language and meaning, when used as a general concept, "language" may refer to the cognitive ability to learn and use systems of complex communication, or to describe the set of rules that makes up these systems, or the set of utterances that can be produced from those rules. All languages rely on the process of semiosis to relate signs to particular meanings. Oral, manual and tactile languages contain a phonological system that governs how symbols are used to form sequences known as words or morphemes, and a syntactic system that governs how words and morphemes are combined to form phrases and utterances.
The scientific study of language is called linguistics. Critical examinations of languages, such as philosophy of language, the relationships between language and thought, etc., such as how words represent experience, have been debated at least since Gorgias and Plato in ancient Greek civilization. Thinkers such as Rousseau (1712 – 1778) have debated that language originated from emotions, while others like Kant (1724 –1804), have held that languages originated from rational and logical thought. Twentieth century philosophers such as Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) argued that philosophy is really the study of language itself. Major figures in contemporary linguistics of these times include Ferdinand de Saussure and Noam Chomsky.
Language is thought to have gradually diverged from earlier primate communication systems when early hominins acquired the ability to form a theory of mind and shared intentionality. This development is sometimes thought to have coincided with an increase in brain volume, and many linguists see the structures of language as having evolved to serve specific communicative and social functions. Language is processed in many different locations in the human brain, but especially in Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Humans acquire language through social interaction in early childhood, and children generally speak fluently by approximately three years old. Language and culture are codependent. Therefore, in addition to its strictly communicative uses, language has social uses such as signifying group identity, social stratification, as well as use for social grooming and entertainment.
Languages evolve and diversify over time, and the history of their evolution can be reconstructed by comparing modern languages to determine which traits their ancestral languages must have had in order for the later developmental stages to occur. A group of languages that descend from a common ancestor is known as a language family; in contrast, a language that has been demonstrated to not have any living or non-living relationship with another language is called a language isolate. There are also many unclassified languages whose relationships have not been established, and spurious languages may have not existed at all. Academic consensus holds that between 50% and 90% of languages spoken at the beginning of the 21st century will probably have become extinct by the year 2100.
PaLM 2 (Pathways Language Model 2) is Google's latest and most advanced large language model (LLM). It builds upon the success of its predecessor, PaLM, and introduces significant improvements in several key areas:
Capabilities:
Advanced Math and Reasoning: PaLM 2 demonstrates significantly...
I'd like to open a discussion on this platform regarding Tanzania's language policy and educational planning. Has any of you encountered topics related to Tanzania's language policy in your teacher's college or teacher's course?
I recall primarily studying English teaching methods, but I'm...
Hiyo lugha itadhihirika zaidi nyakati za uchaguzi 2025
Rais anao mawaziri wengi, ila kati ya hao, wengi hawamtaki ila kwa sababu ya desturina mila zetu za kiafrika, mtu hutakiwi kumpinga mkubwa wako hadharani, unachoruhusiwa ubakie na chuki zako moyoni
Mh Rais, anasukuma gurudumu lenye...
Nimepita mitaa fulani huko nimesikia kuna watu wanasema hayati JPM ukali wote ule ila alikuwa hamaanishi alivyokuwa akizungumza .
Binafsi nimepitia video chache nikaona hayo madai hayana ukweli wowote na alikuwa na nia nzuri na hili Taifa .
Kuna wale wataalamu wa body language mnasemaje ...
Once mwananchi always mwananchi.
Huyu dogo Feisal bado ana mapenzi makubwa sana na Yanga. Mechi ya jana amecheza kinazi. Amecheza chini ya kiwango chake. Kuna baadhi ya mashuti alikuwa anajipigisha fyongo ili mradi asilete madhara kwenye klabu yake hiyo ya Zamani.
Kwa watu wanao jua kusoma...
Hello buddies!
I wanted to share the above caption with for thoughts as we celebrate this lovely football sunday.
All the best for Yanga SC.
If Yanga gonna play bursting counter attacks with speed and coordinate link play no doubt we will celebrate together.
Umoja ni nguvu mioyo yetu ikapate...
This post intends to show the origins of Nuru, its purpose, what it can be used for, what it should not be used for and the potential future of the programming language.
Background
This language is the direct child of a programming language called "Monkey Language" made by Thorston Ball. He...
Using English as the language of instruction at all levels of education in Tanzania would bring many benefits to students, teachers, and the country as a whole.
Firstly, using English as the language of instruction would improve access to international knowledge and resources. English is widely...
Hello, ladies and gentlemen I'd like to welcome you all to this English language 101 Club. This club is for those who want to learn English language and excel.
We are sometimes tirelessly struggling to learn this language (Eng-L) but our struggles yield to nothing, worry out you are not wholly...
Apart na kuagiza nje ya nchi ambapo itachukuwa muda mrefu wa wiki mbili.
Nataka kujua wapi ndani ya dar es salaam naweza kupata hiki kitabu kwa ajili ya programming.
Kwa Mbobezi / Wabobezi wa Saikolojia ( hasa ile ya Mawasiliano ) kama GENTAMYCINE ukiziangalia tu kwa umakini wako wote Picha zote za Wachezaji wa Yanga SC wakiwa Safarini kuelekea nchini Tunisia wala hupati shida kujua kuwa Wameshafungwa na Kutolewa rasmi katika CAFCC hivyo watarejea Kuendelea...
Habar wakuu
Mdogo wenu nshavurugwa huku nina 8086 Trainer kit sijui kuitumia kuandika assembly language program naweza kuzipata online shida ni kuziandika nifanyeje
Shukran
Wakuu Habari zenu? Kujifunza programming language wapi tunakwama kama taifa.
Kuna kipindi na mimi niliamua kujaribu kujifunga ili nianze kutengeneza app ya android, Rafiki yangu akaniambia nitumie android studio nikainstall android studio kwenye computer nikajaribu kutengeneza weather forecast...
Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la elimu , sayansi na utamaduni UNESCO tarehe 23 mwezi Novemba mwaka 2021 lilitangaza rasmi tarehe 7 Julai ya kila mwaka kuwa siku ya Kiswahili duniani.
Maudhui ya maadhimisho ya mwaka huu ni Kiswahili kwa amani na ustawi. Lengo hasa la maadhimisho haya ya mwaka ni...
I've been learning Kiswahili for roughly a year using Duolingo. It has been very useful and I have had no problems with it, but I think it would be very helpful for me to also use other resources to learn Kiswahili.
I am aware that the language, like most languages, definitely requires more...
JamiiForums uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.