Definitions

Paragraphs


Language is arbitrary- to obtain a proper definition of this statement I have broken it down into 2 parts, language and arbitrary. The heinemann dictionary has stated that “language is The words we speak or write, the sounds or words used by a particular country or group, a system of sign and symbols used to communicate.
And that arbitrary is “ based on your opinion or whim rather than a reason”
So to place these to definitions into one would arrive at ‘based on they way peoples opinions are formed will influence the way they speak or write.” To look at the following quote in the textbook ‘Language and Literacies” that “ Language is arbitrary – there is no inherent reason that the word ‘cat’ refers to a small furry animal; it has been agreed to by a group of language users…it’s the kind of agreement that occurs when groups of people come to share values, beliefs and ways of doing things over time.” (Emmitt, 2003.p12.) Examples of languag...