Language scholars have developed many definitions of language based upon what appear to be its unique features, such as symbolism and generativity. But there is considerable disagreement on what those features are and how to define them.
Symbolism | Generativity |
---|---|
Words “refer” to other things What a word “refers” to is often its meaning | We can create and understand an infinite number of meaningful sentences |
These debates often revolve around the nature of language as a cognitive, social, or cultural phenomenon, influencing approaches to understanding its complexities and functions.