单项选择题It is a universally acknowledged fact that human beings
possess a larger brain than animals. This allows us to coordinate our lives
better and communicate with each other on a higher, more sophisticated level.
Language is a mode of communication where with a limited number of words we can
produce an infinite number of sentences. It gives us the chance to discuss ideas
and look at the world with a critical eye. This process provides us with the
opportunity to stimulate our intelligence which in turn enables us to improve
our means of communication. It is of utmost importance to note that we have
developed our linguistic abilities so that we not only have the option of
interacting verbally and through signs but also on a written basis.
The central question to be examined is: How does language actually influence our specifically animal operations A case in point would be that when we look at an object, for example a tree, do we see it in its pure, realistic and natural way or is language imposing a certain influence in the way we look at this tree Do we regard it as an object of nature which is a tall woody plant having a single, usually, long and straight main stem, generally with a few or no branches on its lower part Or are we simply seeing it that way because of the context of the language in our culture One theory which supports this point of view is the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis.
Since the languages of the world differ in regard to their semantic and structural characteristics, it seems somewhat logical to argue that people speaking widely different languages would also differ in the way they viewed and thought about the world. An example may illustrate this point. If one must classify things such as camels, automobiles or snow in certain ways, then one must perceive them differently from someone who does not require to make these distinctions. Eskimos may have a number of different meanings for the word "snow", whereas we only have one. In Maltese, for example, there is no word which specifically describes the word "snow". It is translated as "silg" which literally translated means "ice". From this we can deduce that it is still debatable whether we perceive the world in its real form or whether we are affected by the language of our society without us realising. Hence one can infer that language imposes meaning on everything existing in our world through the human being.
Consequently, meaning must be placed at the center of any attempt to explain language. But, meaning lies not in the words but in the people. We use words to approximate the meanings we wish to communicate, but these words still remain imperfect and incomplete representations of our meanings. After having delved deeper into this subject, we can conclude that language is the trait which decisively distinguishes man from all other creatures and that human language is arguably the single most remarkable characteristic which we have and the one that most truly sets our species apart. Undeniably, other creatures do have a way of communicating with each other and appear to do this through some sort of signaling system which allows them to pass on information within their species and occasionally even with members outside their own species. The bottom line is that the human language is so utterly different from all of these other signaling systems, that we are obliged to treat it as a truly unique phenomenon.Which of the following is the most significant function of language
The central question to be examined is: How does language actually influence our specifically animal operations A case in point would be that when we look at an object, for example a tree, do we see it in its pure, realistic and natural way or is language imposing a certain influence in the way we look at this tree Do we regard it as an object of nature which is a tall woody plant having a single, usually, long and straight main stem, generally with a few or no branches on its lower part Or are we simply seeing it that way because of the context of the language in our culture One theory which supports this point of view is the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis.
Since the languages of the world differ in regard to their semantic and structural characteristics, it seems somewhat logical to argue that people speaking widely different languages would also differ in the way they viewed and thought about the world. An example may illustrate this point. If one must classify things such as camels, automobiles or snow in certain ways, then one must perceive them differently from someone who does not require to make these distinctions. Eskimos may have a number of different meanings for the word "snow", whereas we only have one. In Maltese, for example, there is no word which specifically describes the word "snow". It is translated as "silg" which literally translated means "ice". From this we can deduce that it is still debatable whether we perceive the world in its real form or whether we are affected by the language of our society without us realising. Hence one can infer that language imposes meaning on everything existing in our world through the human being.
Consequently, meaning must be placed at the center of any attempt to explain language. But, meaning lies not in the words but in the people. We use words to approximate the meanings we wish to communicate, but these words still remain imperfect and incomplete representations of our meanings. After having delved deeper into this subject, we can conclude that language is the trait which decisively distinguishes man from all other creatures and that human language is arguably the single most remarkable characteristic which we have and the one that most truly sets our species apart. Undeniably, other creatures do have a way of communicating with each other and appear to do this through some sort of signaling system which allows them to pass on information within their species and occasionally even with members outside their own species. The bottom line is that the human language is so utterly different from all of these other signaling systems, that we are obliged to treat it as a truly unique phenomenon.Which of the following is the most significant function of language
A. To classify things.
B. To make distinctions.
C. To communicate meaning.
D. To impose meaning.
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