Language:

A language is a system of signs for encoding and decoding information. Language refers to the cognitive faculty that enables humans to learn and use systems of complex communication. Language is the ability to produce and comprehend both spoken and written words. Understanding how language works means reaching across many branches of psychology—everything from basic neurological functioning to high-level cognitive processing.

Elements of Language:

1. Phonology: Phonology is a branch of linguistics that studies how languages or dialects systematically organize their sounds. It is the organization of sound into patterns. Phonology is the way sound functions in a language.
2. Morphology: It is the study of words, how they are formed, and their relationship to other words in the same language. It analyzes the structure of words and parts of words such as stems, root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Morphology also looks at parts of speech, intonation and stress, and the context of the way can change a word’s pronunciation and meaning. Morphology also studies the history and development of word forms.
3. Syntax: Syntax is the study of how words and morphemes combine to form larger units such as phrases and sentences. It is the study of sentence building, of the ways in which words are arranged together in order to make larger units.
4. Semantics: It is the study of meaning, reference, or truth. It deals with the linguistic levels and the objects or concepts or ideas to which they refer. It is the subfield that studies meaning. Semantics can address meaning at the levels of words, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse. Two of the fundamental issues in the field of semantics are that of compositional semantics and lexical semantics.
5. Pragmatics: It is the study of practical aspects of human action and thought.

Preliminary Concept of Language Functions:

The preliminary concept of language functions is the understanding of a language. This is done through the identification of the basic words that constitute the language. Then the syntax of the words used in sentences is to be learned. A language function refers to the active use of language for various purposes. It also explains why something is said or written.  

• A language develops four skills which are listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• A language helps in understanding pronunciations, spelling and grammar for appropriate communication.
• A language enables a person to communicate or express his ideas, feelings and experiences.
• A language is both art and science acquired by imagination.
• A language helps for the verbal communication among people.
• A language helps in national development as well as national integration.
• A language needs mastery over it only to achieve perfection.
• A language needs continuous practice and use in order to express thinking and imagination.
• A literature is based on language which is the expression of civilization.
• Social development is possible with the help of language.