COMMUNICATION: LANGUAGE AS A TOOL

LANGUAGE AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION

Language is a system made up of some specific symbol and the combination of these symbols in different ways gives different meanings.

For example-  the three alphabets- e, a, t can be combined or arranged in the following two ways to give different meanings - eat, ate, and tea.

Language is the way by which we share our views, ideas, feelings, and information. It means we communicate through language. Or we can say language is just like a tool in our hand by using which we can communicate with each other. Communication is made possible with the help of language only.

The tool is actually a scientifically developed instrument that is used by man in different ways to reduce efforts. Man has invented many tools to make his life easy and language is the most remarkable tool as he has a genuine need for linguistic communication. So he needs language as communication is important for socialization and it creates an environment of brotherhood around the globe. People from different countries, groups, and castes, share their knowledge with the help of language. It is a language that distinguishes man from animal. According to T. Balasubramanium “Language has a very important social purpose because it is mainly used for linguistic communication. Language serves the community and it also has a certain function to perform.

The main functions of language are-

    1. exchanging of information

    2. persuasion

    3. counseling

    4. co-ordination

  5. communication

     We can compare language with tools as there are similarities between them.

1.    As we use different tools to perform different functions, in the same way, we use language to perform communication.

2.    Like any other tool language also has its salient features. So, we can say that language is a tool for communication.

3.    Language was invented by man it is artificial like tools.

4.    Language can be used in two ways oral or written. Both have their own merits and demerits. But it took centuries to give birth to the written form of language.

5.    Language is a system of conventional spoken or written symbols by means of which humans participate in cultural groups.