Language

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the SpringerBriefs in Biology book series (BRIEFSBIOL, volume 1)

Abstract

A language is a system of grammatically organized symbols that enables us to communicate meaningful information to others. Words are arbitrary symbols that refer to objects and events in the natural world, as well as to intangible ideas and relationships derived from them. While signals are limited to providing on/off information, language-based messages are able to convey abstract thoughts, tell stories, ask questions, and transmit acquired knowledge. Meaningful discourse involves language that not only is intended to have an effect on one or more recipients, but also does have an effect on them, even if it is not the one intended. We also communicate meaningful information nonverbally, both in association with language and apart from it. Nonverbal messages only convey information about the sender’s current emotional state or behavior, which is why animals and infants can only communicate how they feel or what they want, not what they think or know.

Keywords

Nonverbal Communication Meaningful Information Individual Word Literal Meaning Symbolic Language 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University of South FloridaFloridaUSA

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