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speechandviceversa.Thoughtisusedwithout be discussing the salient features of language language when the vehicle of thinking is non- acquisition. verbal such as visual or movement-related. You have been using language all your life. Language is used without thought when Now try to define accurately what it is that you expressing feelings or exchanging pleasantries, havebeenusing.Languageconsistsofasystem for example “Good morning! How are you?” of symbols organised by means of certain rules that we use to communicate with each other. “Very well, I am fine”. When the two functions overlap, they can be used together to produce You will notice that language has three basic verbal thought and rational speech. characteristics: (a) the presence of symbols, (b) a set of rules to organise these symbols, and (c) communication.Hereweshallbediscussing D EVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE AND L ANGUAGE USE these three characteristics of language. The first characteristic of language is that it involves symbols. Symbols represent Meaning and Nature of Language something or someone else, for example, the In the previous section we discussed the place where you live is called ‘home’, the place relationship between language and thought. where you study is called ‘school’, the thing In this section, we will examine how human that you eat is called ‘food’. Words like home, beings acquire and use language in different school, food, and numerous other words do age groups. Think for a moment: what would not in themselves carry any meaning. When have happened if you did not have a language these words are associated with some objects/ to express whatever you wanted to say? In the events they attain meaning and we begin absence of language you will not be able to recognising those objects/events, etc. with communicate your ideas and feelings, nor will particular words (symbols). We use symbols you have the opportunity to know or have while thinking. access to what others think and feel. As a child The second characteristic of language is when you first started saying “ma..ma..ma.”, that it involves rules. While combining two or it not only gave you tremendous boost to more words we usually follow a definite and continue repeating this activity but also was a accepted order of presenting these words. For great moment of joy for your parents and other example, one would most likely say “I am going care-givers. Slowly you learnt to say ‘ma’ and to school” and not “school am going I”. ‘papa’ and sometime later combined two or The third characteristic of language is that more words to communicate your needs, it is used for communicating one’s thought, feelings, and thoughts. You learnt words ideas, intentions, and feelings to others. On appropriate for situations and also learnt the many occasions we communicate through the rules of putting these words in sentences. use of our body parts, called gestures or Initially you learnt to communicate in the postures. This type of communication is called language being used at home (usually the non-verbal communication. Some people who mother-tongue), went to school and learnt the cannot use oral speech, like the ones with formal language of instruction (in many cases severe hearing and speech problems, this language is different from the mother- communicate through signs. Sign language is tongue), and were promoted to higher grades also a form of language. and learnt other languages. If you look back, you will realise that your journey from crying Development of Language and saying “ma..ma..ma” to the attainment of mastery in not one but many languages, has Language is a complex system and unique to human beings. Psychologists have tried to been a fascinating one. In this section we shallteach sign language, use of symbols to Chapter 7 • Thinking 121 Reprint 2026-27