The main function of language – communicative, but besides it is still a set of other tasks which are carried out by this surprising phenomenon in human life. The language role for people and society cannot be overestimated: some scientists consider it the main cause of reason.
What is language?
Language is the complex system consisting of signs through which it is possible to transmit certain information. In a general sense this concept includes both natural, and artificial languages, including programming languages, languages of animals, sign and others.
But the natural human language which arose during evolution of people several hundreds thousands years ago is one of the most difficult, unusual and surprising phenomena. Its origin is still unknown, there is a set of hypotheses, but any of them did not receive official confirmation yet. One is known precisely – the language role in human lives and societies is huge, possibly, it is one of the tools which allowed the person as a species to gain a dominant position among all animals and to become reasonable.
Functions of language
The first and main function which is performed by language in human life is communicative. First of all this phenomenon serves for information transfer from some people to others. Without it any joint activity would be impossible, beginning from construction of the house and finishing with creation of hadron colliders. Volyuntativny function – one of manifestations communicative, it means that by means of language it is possible to influence other person. Another is closely connected with this function – accumulative. It means that language allows to transfer information not only among the individuals living in one society in at one time but also from generation to generation. As a result knowledge is accumulated, people through any periods can use them. Technological progress and development of science would be impossible without language. Linguists allocate emotional and expressional function of language: it seems not such significant in human life as others, but actually the huge value has. The person is a social being to whom important not only to interact with other people, but also to have with them difficult relations: friendly, related, love and others. Gestures, behavior, a mimicry perform this function too, but only language it is possible as it is possible to express the emotions more stoutly. Constructive function defines impact of language on thinking of the person: these two concepts as it is proved by scientists, are closely interconnected. Language helps with perception, allows to operate with concepts, to build cogitative chains, to fix and analyze the thoughts. By means of language thinking is structured, gets accurate forms, thoughts become understood and logical.