What is language? What are its functions, advantages, and limitations?

Authors Avatar

Andrew Gaudio                                                                                          October 13, 2003

Theory of Knowledge                                                                                      Mr. Bamforth

What is language? What are its functions, advantages, and limitations?

        

Language is a written code used for communication or for the displaying of data. There are two different types of language: Mathematical (numerical) and natural (e.g. English). An advantage to natural language is to ease the difficulties of communication. An advantage of mathematics as a language is that problems can be solved in an organized and easy-to-follow order. Both types of languages have their limitations. A limitation of natural language is that it is subjective. A limitation of mathematics as language is that it is not used a form of communication.

Join now!

        Natural language is a form of communication developed over thousands of years as humans developed civilization. From prehistory up to the present language had been evolving. Spreading information by the use of language is a type of communication. For example, if I tell someone the temperature is 32° C outside in Milan, Italy, I am spreading information by using language in the form of communication.

        An advantage of natural language is that communication is easy. With a vast vocabulary, a listener can have a general (or specific) idea about what is being told to him/her. Also, some ideas can ...

This is a preview of the whole essay