Importance Of Language

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In order to thoroughly analyze the importance of language, one must first evaluate the factual meaning of this thought-provoking term. Language is a very broad topic and although it takes various forms and meanings, the most simplistic way to define it is ‘a term most commonly used to refer to the forms of communication considered peculiar to humankind’ (Wikipedia 2). In linguistics (narrowly defined as the scientific approach to the study of language) however, the term is extended to refer to the type of human thought process which creates and uses language. It seems today that one of the most important abilities humans possess that sets them apart from the rest of the animal kingdom is language. The ability to communicate ideas, emotions, instructions or just small talk often is taken for granted but language is just as important as one of the five senses. Humans can communicate ideas, concepts and complicated factual information like mathematical equations or concepts in physics. They can also stir the feelings of others through words that are written, in a book, spoken in a play or sung in a song. Words of love have filled volumes for millennia (Kilgour 3). Very primitive picture words cave men scratched on the walls of caves tell stories of their hunting for food, wars or changes in seasons. The Old and New Testaments, of course, are filled with many different stories, teachings and facts as are the holy books of all religions. And all of these have stirred the passions of men and women for centuries. Humans have used language for good and for evil. They still do. Language is used by different individuals for different purposes; the most apparent reason for the use of language is the need for communication. Language can however be used for other motives such as alienating or discriminating individuals and groups through the use of language which is often

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