1. Symbolic: Language uses symbols (words, sounds, gestures) to represent concepts, objects, and ideas. These symbols have no inherent meaning but are assigned by convention.
* Example: The word "cat" doesn't look like a cat, but it's understood to represent a feline animal.
2. Arbitrary: The relationship between a symbol and its meaning is arbitrary. There's no natural connection between the word "cat" and the animal.
* Example: Different languages use different words for the same thing. "Cat" in English is "gato" in Spanish and "chat" in French.
3. Structured: Language follows specific rules of grammar and syntax that determine how words are combined to form meaningful sentences.
* Example: The sentence "The cat sat on the mat" follows a specific word order (Subject-Verb-Object) that makes sense in English.
4. Creative: Humans can use language to create new expressions, ideas, and concepts. We can combine existing words and phrases in new ways.
* Example: You can understand and create sentences you've never heard before.
5. Dynamic: Language constantly changes over time, with new words and phrases being created and old ones evolving in meaning.
* Example: Words like "selfie" and "influencer" are relatively new additions to the English language.
6. Cultural: Language is deeply intertwined with culture. Different cultures have different linguistic norms, dialects, and expressions.
* Example: Different cultures have different ways of expressing politeness, greetings, and humor.
7. Multimodal: Language can be conveyed through various modalities, including speech, writing, gestures, and even visual symbols.
* Example: You can communicate with someone using only sign language, or a combination of spoken words and visual cues.
These are just some of the key characteristics of language. By understanding these characteristics, we can better appreciate the complexity and power of human communication.