0
Languages are said to be arbitrary because there is no necessary or natural relationship between the words of a given language and the concepts that they represent. For example, there is nothing in the word "tree" that connects it to the concept of a tree; which is why Spanish can use a totally different sign for the same concept: "árbol"; and so on with other languages.
Also, languages are arbitrary because the rules for the combination of signs in order to produce complete thoughts are different from one language to the other, and no set of rules can claim to be the "right" one. For example, in English you say "I like beer", whereas in Spanish you would say "Me gusta la cerveza". The translation/transliteration of the latter would be something like: "Beer is agreeable to me", or [is agreeable to me the beer], which sounds strange in English. And neither of these formulations has a better claim to accuracy, correctness or truth than the other.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Anonymous
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why is language for the most part arbitrary?
Language is arbitrary because that is the nature of language. There is no other way to design language.
Describe any other communication system that like language consists of arbitrary symbols?
Language is a system Can language be compared with any other system.
What does the five characteristics of language?
Symbolic Arbitrary Rule-governed Productive Dynamic
What is bloch's ande targer's definition of language?
A Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group co-operates.
What are 5 characteristics of language?
There are many distinguishing characteristics of language. Here are 5:It is uniquely humanIt is systematicIt is symbolicIt is arbitrary ( referring to the connection between features of the language and meaning)It is evolutionary
Why is language for the most part arbitrary?
Language is arbitrary because that is the nature of language. There is no other way to design language.
How language is arbitrary?
it is constantly evolving
How is language abituary?
Language is not arbitrary. It is learned culture, and is constrained by cultural norms even as it evolves along with them.
Evaluate the key features of language?
The key features of language are that it is communicative, arbitrary, structured, generative and dynamic.
What is language and how do artists manipulate it creatively?
Language is the vocal arbitrary and conventional symbols accepted to be used in human communication.
List and explain the characteristics of language?
language is a social tool is a way of communication language is arbitrary it is a combination of rules it is symbolic language is productive and creative language is dynamic is a learned behaviour it is not instinctive it is systmatic.
Describe any other communication system that like language consists of arbitrary symbols?
Language is a system Can language be compared with any other system.
What does the five characteristics of language?
Symbolic Arbitrary Rule-governed Productive Dynamic
Why is language defined as an arbitrary system of vocal symbols?
Human languages are arbitrary by nature: There is no reason why a furry domestic animal that purrs should be called cat, and not blop or fleechtafly.The fact that different languages use different words to describe the same thing is, in itself, a proof of arbitrariness.Grammatical structures are just as arbitrary; for instance, the English language uses mainly a subject-verb-object structure while the German language puts verbs at the end of the sentence, etc.
What is bloch's ande targer's definition of language?
A Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group co-operates.
Why can not be a language fully arbitrary?
Because it would be incomprehensible. Take all the sounds that people are capable of making, make sound bites out of them and randomly associate them. What do you have? Meaningless noise. It is because we learn which sounds not to make, which combinations of sounds do not make words, and which combinations of words do not make coherent sentences, and to discard the meaningless sounds, words, and sentences that we are able to use language at all. For example, your question does not use proper grammar, but an English speaker automatically corrects it to say "Why can a language not be fully arbitrary?" It's wrong but not arbitrary, because it is close to the correct sentence. Had you written "Language not be a fully arbitrary can why?" it is so wrong that nobody would understand it.
What is language according to 'bloch and trager'?
a system of arbitrary vocal symbol by means a social group operates
