Language and its community functions

This essay discusses the community language and the individual using theory. It looks at how people’s identity change because of language. Language is useful in communication, social interaction, economic and cultural identity.

English Language and Linguistics
Community Language and Individual

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Language and its community functions.......................................................................................................3
a) Language in the community and its social context..............................................................................3
b) Language and its economic context in the community........................................................................4
Language as Complex.................................................................................................................................5
Language policy and the community...........................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................7
References...................................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
A community could be a group of people in a region, culture or affiliation. People express
themselves in a community and language supports this interaction. Individuals share practices
and the evolution of a community is parallel to language development. As new people join a
group, new ideas and practices emerge. Language is part of the cultural definition and forms the
main component of a community. Jenkins & Leung (2013) identifies English as an example of a
language that defines a group’s identity. In this opinion, the design of a language and its
standards depends on its purpose. Individuals who pursue second language in an attempt to gain
a new identity may comprise their personal attributes such as name, family, origin, nationality,
lifestyle, language, and career among other. The role of language in the community is
communication and people strive to learn new language in order to adopt new culture or fit in a
community. This essay discusses the community language and the individual using theory. It
looks at how people’s identity change because of language. For example, people’s lives change
because of the acquisition of academic and professional skills thanks to language. Language is
useful in communication, social interaction, economic and cultural identity.
Language and its community functions
Halliday & Hasan (1985, p. 17) point out that then function of language s not just its use but its
properties. Language comprises of formal and informal principles developed by institutional,
personal and pedagogical learning. Language functions include its use language in speech,
writing, reading and listening. People gain language skills through training, social and personal
experiences. It could be in form of texts, visual elements, signs, and symbols. A person’s
language ability evolves over time and demonstrates language as articulate, clear, and coherent.
In order to understand the relationship between the individual and language, it is important to
understand its context.
a) Language in the community and its social context
Sociolinguistics consider the social structure of language, its power of influence and its cultural
perspective (Wenger, 1998). According to Wenger, the social context views language as a
symbol and a channel of effective communication within relationships. In modern times, the
virtual world provides unique interactions through written texts, videos, and images. The use of
emoji’s in online communication shows the use of different language characters to communicate

feelings in a nonphysical manner. From the traditional function, language is pragmatic. This
means that it represents personal expressions, is representational and conative value. Knox
(2018) reiterates that the meaning of language reveals ideological variations on how to deliver
the speech and write across different groups. This includes differences in the meaning of words
such as “bomb” which may have a formal meaning of an explosive and an informal one implying
outstanding.
People use language to identify their personal feelings and express themselves in essays, poems,
and speech. Similarly, its pragmatic use also represents what other people feel and what people
ought to know as shown in books. Language has speech variations that define different
experiences. The logical meaning of language may have different interpretations of different
groups of people. For example “brat” in the US and UK represents a spoilt child while it means
brother in Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Croatia (Brown, 2016). Language components may also
have similarities across different cultural backgrounds. For example, the word “mama” and
“papa” have global meanings. English words may also have different dialects but sound similar.
For example, “gift” in English refers to something pleasant while in German it means ‘poison’.
This may bring problems for foreigners traveling to new locations as tourists. The internet
provides a platform without boundaries for people to interact through language.
Language has a natural dimension, which may refer to the mother tongue and its influence on
people. It connects young and people who are familiar with each other. Language may also
involve strangers from different regions of the world. This makes it a link between action or
participation and networking in a community (Swales, 1998). In the conventional perspective,
language is dynamic and it supports the exchange of information, expert communication and a
complex adaptive component with variables. Thus, language is a social and cultural element that
supports socialization and absorption of new members into the society.
b) Language and its economic context in the community
In the economic sphere, a language is a negotiation tool in the professional field. Educational
benefits of language are significant in the professional world. In order to gain knowledge, people
need language. When individuals train in language, the dialect registers a variety of language in
different patterns. In the technical fields, it supports the formation of concepts through formulas
and symbols. Language defines attitudes, reflections and actions shaping outcomes. This makes
it useful in marketing and advertising. Organizations depend on language to develop legal
structures. The language supports competencies and it defines levels of interaction (Hymes,

1972). Knowledge acquisition through language supports personal development by sharpening
communication skills. Qualified professionals searching for jobs in different environments have
to prove their written and verbal communication. The age-specific process of learning language
is useful because of the age-specific interactions and cognitive abilities.
Language schools capitalize on the harmonization of language for cohesion and impact in the
community. In the global context, the language supports business transactions, structures, and
meta-functions. International organizations such as the United Nations adopt a multilingual
approach to its activities because of its global perspective. The same applies to multinational
corporations in the international market system. The creative use of language in business
campaigns has a pragmatic and interactional perspective. The expansion of language to
incorporate new words from different disciplines has economic benefits. For example, words
such as “techno-savvy”, “Android”, “mouse”, “boot”, and “Facebook Likes” come from the
technology world. The ‘science world includes a host of vocabulary such as “pathogenicity”,
“interface” and immunocompromised”. Language completes an individual in the community and
it defines different sectors of a community. This explains the difference between the art world in
which performing art has pomp and color while the academic world is all about books. The
classification of society through language shapes economic identity and relations.
Language as Complex
Burns & Knox (2011) highlights the complexities of language and its use in diverse systems.
When used in the business environment, it features professional communication in different
modes. This includes written language with standardized grammar, verbs, and vocabularies.
Language works differently in different situations. This means it has micro functions within the
main functions. Although it is essential in e-commerce, there are different language styles for
social media and email communications. Although each individual has a different understanding
of language, different contexts also describe language as a symbolic structure. In language, it is
possible to negotiate the meaning of language to suit the contexts. African words such as
“Safari” has become popular because of the contextual use within the Travel and Tours. “Emoji”
is a popular Japanese word that meaning pictograph. Declared word of the year in 2016 emoji
has different symbols describing facial expressions, mood and ethos (Oxford Dictionaries, 2015).

The digital world complicates language use because of the effectiveness of its broken language,
which surpasses grammar rules. The holistic model of communication means a multifaceted
aspect of language as a semiotic system with different levels (Matthiessn, 2005). This explains
the variations in different contexts. Functional linguistics support language growth by identifying
gaps in language. The emergence of English as a global language is a wakeup call for the
development of new rules to incorporate a multicultural environment. This unification process
acknowledges the role of al Englishess from American, UK, China and Australian and other
versions. This poses a challenge in designing a standard language that suits and accommodates
everyone. Some communities like the Chinese feel a close link with their cultural connection.
Language highlights aspects of a culture because of the borrowed words and phrases. It is also
notable that language describes the cultural contexts within which language can make sense.
Whether economic, social, and scientific or Art specific, language breaks down the complexities
of communication paving the way for human interaction (Chomsky, 2006).
Language variations in dialects include changes in accents, in a semogenesis process that looks
for meaning through modelling in order to create meaning. The development of personal
meanings stems from the situation at hand. For example, a tourist from France who visits the US
may have to readjust the meaning of the word “chips” from the native meaning of “French fries”.
Nonnative English speakers who admire the original English language may choose to take up
lessons with native speaking persons in order to gain a positive influence (Whorf, 1964).
Language brings out the connection between ideas. To understand the Marxist Economic
theories, it is necessary to have a grasp of the language. A language plan showing contemporary
models of thinking differentiates reality from fiction. Poets play around with words giving
interesting narrations that may be difficult to decipher. An astute mind of a scholar is able to
distinguish scholastic literature from the casual language.
Language policy and the community
Ricento (2015) discusses language policy in the political economy to indicate the role of global
language in the multicultural environment. From the discussion, the language supports national
and international endeavors though functions, benefits and limitations. For example, third world
countries depend on foreign aid from developed countries for development. In order to succeed
in drafting proposals, such countries have to present proposals in proficient language. Language
development is a scientific study that classifies the synthesis of words into different types of
structures. Expressing language thoughts includes translating personalised information into
comprehensible information (Wittermans & Witterman's). The psychological perspective of

language highlights patterns of communication, social systems and the emphasis on context.
Communication is about people and social expression. Language as a social action involves
external communication with gestures, vocal, symbolic, speaking and listening activities.
Interpretation is an integral aspect of language development. There are similarities, differences
and variations in the language with sociocultural connotations. Sharing ideas is an art that
captures the elements of language, its meanings and patterns. Used in internal communication,
language expresses personal thoughts as people recall, memorize and imagine things. Anyone
reading a personal diary will be amazed at the power of the mind and the ability to capture
information through language (Maton, 2007). Language philosophers and ethno linguists have
made immense contributions towards the development of language. Language is exciting and
serves as a symbol of national unity. There are favorable terms with categories of significant
concepts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, language has benefits and limitations. Useful in the social context, it defines
individuals, describes communities and breaks down the contextual. Finding meaning in
language is a challenge because of its multiple elements and complex nature. In essence,
language is contextual, logical, and interpersonal plus textual concept. Language as a social sign
represents what is used in the community. Since people cannot exist as individuals, language acts
as a bridging gap. Language has different levels and is suitable for social, economic and cultural
perspectives. However, the language policy depends on its use and discipline. In the pedagogic,
language involves an interaction between the teacher and student; in science, it features the
relationship between a doctor and patient. Each discipline has language elements that support
communication, personal thoughts and knowledge.

References
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