Why is language needed?

Question

Obviously for communication, etc but why else? Is that the only reason?
Thankyou.

Ivette - well I'm trying to make a presentation on language and I thought if I got some peoples opinions they could back up my suggestions and answers.
Thanks for your help everyone.

Answer 1

This is actually a more interesting question than people are giving you credit for.

First of all, it is not by any means certain that language originated with the function of communicating propositional information (of the sort "there's a big sabre-tooth tiger behind that rock there"), even if that's what we use it for today. It may have begun as an internal system that aided cognition, which became externalised and modified as spoken (or signed) language.

Alternatively (and the two things are not mutually exclusive) it may have its origins in external vocalisations: these could be used as a substitute for physical grooming when hominin group sizes grew too large. Or they could be used as kin identifiers (if members of your family make a particular kind of noise in a particular circumstance, you recognise them even if you don't know them) and so on.

Now, you may think this has no relevance to our use of language today. It does: think of how much what we call communication is just (apparently) mindless chatter. When we meet friends for a coffee or a beer, what are we doing? Are we really communicating vital information? Not really. We're mainly reinforcing bonds -- this is the grooming function of language.

You may think that kin-recognition doesn't play a role in modern language. It does though, provided you expand the idea of kin to community or group: what's the best way to tell where people are from, what class they belong to etc? The way they speak.

And there's more. None of us like cheats and exploitative individuals and the like: they damage communities and lead to the breakdown of cooperation. So we gossip: we tell each other who did what to whom and who can be trusted and who is nasty and nice.

And there's even more: information -- of this sort, and about things like resources and where to get them -- is something we want. People who have it can tell other people and thus, as a good source of information, increase their standing in society. They can also use language to attract mates: it's a good means of displaying a gsoh and indicating how intelligent you are.

Is that enough?

Answer 2

Pretty much. It is how humanity interacts with each other, although it was apparently not needed in caveman days. Just grunts and gestures back then. It is a form of expression which is used constantly whether talking or writing to another person, an animal, or ones self. Good question!!!

Answer 3

I use language not only to communicate, but to express myself. Of course that is a form of communication, and I could express myself in different ways, but I choose to use language, through writing for instance... even if no one reads it... But if you are alone, completely alone, you need no language. So I say that indeed the main reason is communication.

Answer 4

not really. language is also ways of showing our feelings etc. think of animals and how they communicate. before language we would make noises and signs to inform others of our emotions. language helps us in many things in life, but as I'm writing this i relies all language is in a round about way to do with communication. lol mm i may have lost you more then helped .x

Answer 5

Initially, it started off as a dumb-a s s idea, but lately it turns out to be the most important part of the human development
a little sarcasm there

Answer 6

well, i've always thought that speaking was just making noises that had meaning for each sound.
i think the purpose of language is to seperate ourselves from animals, who all they can do is meow and whatever. language was to make us more sophisticated in communication. otherwise, we might be typing in grunts or something right now.

Answer 7

Language is needed because......then how will you communicate asking questions...other than that i don't have the idea/knowledge for it.And why did you thought of this question?

Answer 8

for communication..for preservation of the past for the future, to leave guidelines for the generations to come..and for communication again.

Answer 9

God created language so that we can understand each other so that we can be a stronger team to resist the harm of nature.
God created different ones so that we can not be one single great team that can overpower him.

Answer 10

Well, isn't that a good enough reason?