THE CHARACTERISTICS OF

LANGUAGE AS THE SOCIAL

PHENOMENA

BY :

DIAN NOVITA

Language

Language is one of the most

important and characteristic

forms of human behaviour.

Indeed, sociolinguists believe

that 'speaking' is almost

always a social act.

Characteristics of Languages

Language is Arbitrary

Language is Social

Language is Symbolic

Language is Systematic

Language is Vocal

Language is Non-instinctive, Conventional

Language is Productive and Creative:

Language is Social

in social group which involves at

least two persons, the speaker and

the

hearer. Language is a special

characteristics of human or it can

also be regarded as a human

criterion because only human being

Language is a set of

conventional communicative

signals used by humans for

communication in a community.

sociolinguists believe that

'speaking' is almost always a

social act.

language has been portrayed as a

human phenomenon used for the

purpose of communication.

to Oyewo (2000: 164) "the three most

important functions of language in

communication are to reveal the

self, to express feelings and values,

and to convey meaningful

message".