The capability of humans to transfer concepts, ideas and notions through speech and writing is unparalleled in any other species. Unlike the call systems of other primates which are closed, human language is far more open, and gains variety in different situations.
The human language has the quality of displacement, using words to represent things and happenings that are not presently or locally occurring, but elsewhere or at a different time. Language is central to the communication between humans, as well as being central to the sense of identity that unites nations, cultures and ethnic groups.
The invention of writing systems at least 5,000 years ago allowed the preservation of language on material objects, and was a major step in cultural evolution. Language is closely attached to ritual and religion. The “science of linguistics” describes the structure of language and the relationship between languages.
Filed under: General | Tagged: civilization, communicate with others, cultural evolution, cultural ties, dead language, economic relationships, emotions, ethnic groups, friendship, human mode of communication, invention of writing systems, Language, linguistics, living language, material objects, modern language, preservation of language, purpose of language, relationship between languages, science of linguistics, sign languages, solidarity, sophisticated communicative systems, structure of language, symbols of communication, thoughts
