1. As a system of communication:
* Broadest Definition: Language is any system of communication used by humans or animals for expressing thoughts and feelings.
* Formal Definition: Language is a systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings. This emphasizes the structured and symbolic nature of language.
2. As a human ability:
* Linguistic Definition: Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, including both verbal and nonverbal aspects. This recognizes that language is an innate human faculty.
* Cognitive Science Definition: Language is a cognitive ability that allows humans to represent and process information about the world, including thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
3. As a specific language:
* English, Spanish, Mandarin, etc.: A specific language refers to a particular system of communication with its own unique grammar, vocabulary, and sounds.
4. Beyond words:
* Body Language: Nonverbal communication like facial expressions, gestures, and posture.
* Visual Language: Art, music, and other forms of visual communication.
* Programming Languages: Systems used for communicating instructions to computers.
Key features of language:
* Symbolic: Language uses symbols (words, gestures) to represent things.
* Structured: Language has rules (grammar) that govern how symbols are combined.
* Generative: Language allows us to create new meanings and expressions.
* Dynamic: Languages evolve and change over time.
In summary: "Language" has a broad definition, encompassing different aspects of communication, human cognition, and specific systems of communication. It's a multifaceted concept, reflecting its fundamental role in human life.