From Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Thu Sep 2 20:24:28 2010

Language is a term most commonly used to refer to so-called "natural languages" — the spoken forms of communication ubiquitous among humankind. By extension the term also refers to the type of thought process which creates and uses language. Essential to both meanings is the systematic creation, maintenance and use of systems of symbols, which dynamically reference concepts and assemble according to structured patterns to form expressions and communicate meaning. The scientific study of language is called linguistics.

A language is a system of signs (symbols, indices, icons) for encoding and decoding information. Since language and languages became an object of study by ancient grammarians, the term has had many different definitions. The English word derives from Latin lingua, "language, tongue." "Tongue," as a physical organ of speech, is also used in English and other languages apart from Latin as a metaphor.

In modern times, a large number of artificial languages have been devised, requiring a distinction between their consciously innovated type and natural language. The latter are forms of communication considered peculiar to humankind. Although some other animals make use of quite sophisticated communicative systems, and these are sometimes casually referred to as animal language, none of these are known to make use of all the properties that linguists use to define language.

The term “language” has branched by analogy into several meanings. The most obvious manifestations are spoken languages such as English or Spoken Chinese. However, there are also written languages and other systems of visual symbols such as sign languages. In cognitive science the term is also sometimes extended to refer to the human cognitive facility of creating and using language. Essential to both meanings is the systematic creation and usage of systems of symbols, each pairing a specific sign with an intended meaning, established through social conventions.

In the late 19th century Charles Sanders Peirce called this pairing process semiosis and the study of it semiotics. According to another founder of semiotics, Roman Jakobson, the latter portrays language as code in which sounds (signantia) signify concepts (signata). Language is the process of encoding signata in the sounds forming the signantia and decoding from signantia to signata.

Concepts themselves are signantia for the objective reality being conceived. When discussed as a general phenomenon then, "language" may imply a particular type of human thought that can be present even when communication is not the result, and this way of thinking is also sometimes treated as indistinguishable from language itself. In Western philosophy, language has long been closely associated with reason, which is also a uniquely human way of using symbols. In Ancient Greek philosophical terminology, the same word, logos, was a term for both language or speech and reason, and the philosopher Thomas Hobbes used the English word "speech" so that it similarly could refer to reason, as presented below.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Fri Sep 3 05:02:36 2010

What's the difference between second language acquisition and foreign language acquisition?
Q. I'm studying the Neurofunctional theory of second language acquisition but I don't get the difference when they say "primary and second language acquisition are marked by the use of the communication heirarchy whereas foreign language acquisition is marked by the use of the cognitive heirarchy" How is second language and foreign language different?
Asked by Claire M - Wed Jan 7 22:54:02 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I'm not sure if it's the exact definitions your books are using but in many of my classes I've taken (I'm a bilingual teacher) we've talked about second language acquisition when referring to someone learning a majority language that is different from their native language in order to assimilate to the local culture (i.e. someone moves to America and learns English or moves to Spain and learns Spanish). We typically used foreign language acquisition when referring to someone learning another language from their home location (i.e. An American student learning Spanish). The difference in use of communication and cognitive hierarchy would come from the innate need to communicate in the second language acq. situation versus a more cognitive… [cont.]
Answered by Melissa N - Wed Jan 7 23:13:27 2009

What language do you think in when speaking a foreign language?
Q. for example if your native language is english and you've learned german, do you think with german words or do you think with english words and have to translate?
Asked by Extra Ordinary - Wed Oct 29 23:38:52 2008 - - 28 Answers - 0 Comments

A. ON a concious level - that particular language. On a subconcious level it's been proven that we all speak the same language--- brainwaves registered for objects were exactly the same whether the person spoke german, english, philipino, etc. Cool, eh?
Answered by jam_please - Fri Oct 31 20:02:06 2008

How are language and thought related? How do you see language and thought being related to each other?
Q. How do you use language and thought to think and organize concepts? What are some examples?
Asked by mcelroy_amber - Thu Jun 3 14:12:44 2010 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

From Yahoo Answer Search: "language"
Wed Sep 8 21:44:31 2010

Language

From Wikiquote Jump to: navigation, search

Language is the term commonly used for any distinctive means of communication. There are several types of language, including , written language, and oral/aural language (spoken). The study of language is commonly called Linguistics.

This theme article needs cleanup. Please review , especially the , to determine how to edit this article to conform to a higher standard of article quality. This page has been listed as needing cleanup since 2006-09-03. This theme article is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it.

Sourced

  • Not only the entire ability to think rests on language... but language is also the crux of the misunderstanding of reason with itself.
  • Language is the picture and counterpart of thought.
    • Mark Hopkins, Address, Dedication of Williston Seminary, Dec. 1, 1841.
  • There is no mode of action, no form of emotion, that we do not share with the lower animals. It is only by language that we rise above them, or above each other---by language, which is the parent, and not the ** ** Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist (1891), Part I.
Japanese Language Program Falls Victim to Economy - New York Times
nytimes.com
Japanese Language Program Falls Victim to Economy - New York Times
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:04:55 GMT+00:00
Program Falls Victim to Economy New York Times The only open-enrollment Japanese language program in the city's high schools will no longer exist. The courses, at Percy L. Julian High ...
China travel without a tour - Seattle Times
seattletimes.nwsource.com
China travel without a tour - Seattle Times
Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:29:30 GMT+00:00
Seattle Times As for language schools, consider recommendations from Rhett Merz, a professional in language education who lives in China. In an article for Transitions ...
November Ballot Goes To The Printer Today - KPBS
kpbs.org
November Ballot Goes To The Printer Today - KPBS
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:34:24 GMT+00:00
kpbs today is the County Registrar of Voters' deadline for the courts to change the language of the election ballot. County Registrar Deborah Seiler said the ... Judge Throws Out Proposition D Lawsuit Mission Times Courier

From Google News Search: "language"
Wed Sep 8 21:44:30 2010

1 language jpg
individual.utoronto.ca
1 language jpg
640px x 1024px | 38.80kB

[source page]

P S Anyway the graphic mockup parts are here as they appear in the schematics Language > Main Menu > Map > Octane >

Free Online Language Games jpg
kylemawer.wikispaces.com
Free Online Language Games jpg
605px x 764px | 145.10kB

[source page]

http kylemawer wikispaces com file view Garfield scavenger hunt 2 jpg http kylemawer wikispaces com file view DrowningatStickvilleRiver gif http kylemawer wikispaces com file view Free Online Language Games jpg http kylemawer wikispaces com file view trappedpart1thewhiterabbit gif

SecondLanguage JPG
grantpilkay.com
SecondLanguage JPG
894px x 400px | 75.80kB

[source page]

Dora explores South America s Climate Even I don t get this one The Importance Of Knowing A Second Language Abby Teaches Us How To Herd Birds

From Yahoo Image Search: "language"
Wed Sep 8 21:44:28 2010

How To Adapt Baby Sign Language For Your Baby Life with Rylie
toriebartee.wordpress.com
How To Adapt Baby Sign Language For Your Baby Life with Rylie

toriebartee

ue, 07 Sep 2010 00:37:23 GM

Today I have guest post from Misty Weaver at Baby Sign . Language. . I've had some people mention they sign with their babies, but I never really thought I could do it. Their site is a great learning tool for those who don't know much about ...

From Google Blog Search: "language"
Wed Sep 8 21:44:30 2010

Politics of : George Lakoff
fora.tv
Politics of : George Lakoff

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT

George Lakoff makes plain how the words used by politicians translate to the public's support for various political issues. Language matters ... fora.tv.

Musical with Itay Talgam & Ariel Qassis
fora.tv
Musical with Itay Talgam & Ariel Qassis

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Intercultural Listening Musical Language with Itay Talgam & Ariel Qassis. Itay Talgam demonstrates the power of music as an intercultural ... fora.tv.

part Brian Goodwin - The Complex of Living Processes - U
embedstock.com
part Brian Goodwin - The Complex of Living Processes - U

Sat, 22 May 2010 14:29:53 PDT

Brian Goodwin - The Complex Language of Living Processes - U. of Sussex. embedstock.com.​

From Google Video Search: "language"
Wed Sep 8 21:44:30 2010