The human being is the only animal species with an articulate and complex language. We communicate as a result of a long evolutionary process that began with simple shouting and ended with speech.
The act of speaking can be analyzed from several perspectives and one of them would be to understand communication as a system in which different elements intervene together. To refer to the systemic model of communication we use the speech circuit proposal.
Elements of the speech circuit
In every communicative act there is an issuer, that is, a subject that says something. At the same time, a receiver intervenes, which is the individual who receives the information from the sender. Between the sender and the receiver a more or less complex message is transmitted.
The link between sender, receiver and message makes sense because it occurs in a specific context of language. The words we say are part of a system of signs, which is known as a code (two speakers only communicate correctly if they use the same code).
There are many media or channels of communication for the sender and receiver to understand each other, such as radio, television, the press or new technologies.
Main language functions
– Communication is the primary function of language. However, we communicate for different purposes.
– The expressive function is the one that transmits emotions from within the issuer, such as doubts, concerns or certainties.
– In the appellate function the sender tries to get the attention of the receiver.
– In the representative function, the sender states something related to the context of the communication.
– The factual or contact function is used for the sender and receiver to keep in touch.
– The metalinguistic function serves to clarify a specific message.
– Finally, the aesthetic function consists of transmitting messages in a beautiful and creative way.
The study of language from various scientific disciplines
– The understanding of human language can be done from several approaches.
– For anthropology it is important to determine when we started talking and why.
– Those who study the brain believe that we speak because our brain structures are programmed and designed for it.
– Linguistics studies all the components that make up language, such as origin, structure or signs.
– Finally, psycholinguistics focuses on the analysis of mental skills associated with language.
Photo: Fotolia – antkevyv
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