What Is Language? Humanity’s Greatest Invention

Delving into the amazing blueprint and operating principles of language, which we use as naturally as breathing every day.

• This article helps you understand the five core components of language.
• Learn why human language is fundamentally different from animal communication.
• Examine the influence of language on our thinking (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis).

From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, we live within language. Whether exchanging messages with friends, reading the news, or humming a favorite song, language is always present. Yet if someone asks, “What exactly is language?” we often find it hard to answer. Because we use it so naturally, we rarely pause to deeply consider its essence.

This article invites you into the familiar yet unfamiliar world of language. Based on fascinating discoveries by linguists, we will embark on a journey to explore the blueprint of this great invention called language.

The Blueprint of Language: Assembling the World Like Lego Blocks

The best way to understand language structure is to think of Lego blocks. Just as there are countless shapes of Lego pieces, language builds an infinite world of meaning by assembling a few basic elements. Linguistics divides this blueprint into five main components.

1. Sound Bricks (Phonology)

All languages start with the smallest units of sound called phonemes. In Korean, these are consonants and vowels like ‘ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅏ, ㅓ’; in English, ‘p, b, i, e’. These sound bricks carry no meaning themselves but form the basic material of all speech.

2. Meaning Blocks (Morphology)

When meaningless sound bricks (phonemes) combine, they form the smallest meaningful units called morphemes. For example, the sounds ‘ㄱ’, ‘ㅏ’, ‘ㅁ’ combine to create the meaningful block ‘감’. The word ‘storybook’ consists of two meaning blocks: ‘story’ and ‘book’. ‘먹보’ (glutton) is formed by combining ‘먹-’ and ‘-보’.

3. Sentence Framework (Syntax)

The rules for arranging meaningful blocks (morphemes, words) into sentences are called syntax. The most representative rule is word order. Korean follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order: “나는(Subject) 너를(Object) 사랑해(Verb)”; English uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): “I love you.” Each language creates sentence structures with its unique grammar rules.

4. Literal and Hidden Meaning (Semantics & Pragmatics)

Semantics deals with the dictionary and literal meanings of words and sentences. For example, “The window is open” literally means the window is in an open state.

In contrast, pragmatics studies how meaning changes depending on context. For instance, “Isn’t it cold here?” often functions as a polite request to “Please close the window.” The final meaning of language is not just the sum of word meanings but is completed only after passing through the filter of ‘context.’

The Special Recipe of Human Language

Many communication methods exist in the world, but what makes human language unique? It’s the presence of several ‘special recipes’ found only in human language.

• Arbitrariness: The sound ’tree’ does not resemble an actual tree; there is no inherent connection between sounds and meanings. It is simply a social ‘agreement.’ This allows language to create symbols freely, independent of reality.
• Creativity/Productivity: With a limited set of words and rules, we can create and understand infinite novel sentences like “A pink elephant eats spaghetti on Mars.”
• Displacement: We can talk about yesterday’s lunch, next year’s vacation plans, or even imaginary unicorns. This ability to communicate beyond ‘here and now’ also enables lying.
• Duality of Patterning: Meaningless sounds like ‘ㄱ, ㅏ, ㅁ’ (primary segmentation) combine to form meaningful units like ‘감’ (secondary segmentation). This two-level structure allows tens of thousands of words to be created from just a few dozen sounds with incredible efficiency.

Do Animals Have ‘Language’?

Can the dance of honeybees or dolphin ultrasounds be called ’language’? Comparing them to human language features reveals clear differences.

• Honeybee Figure-Eight Dance: Accurately conveys direction and distance to nectar but cannot create new messages like “There’s a spider near the nectar, be careful.” It lacks creativity.
• Dolphin Ultrasounds: Dolphins have unique ’names’ (signature whistles) and regional ‘dialects,’ but there is no conclusive evidence they possess full displacement or creativity to talk freely about past, future, or imagination.

Comparison / Alternatives

Comparison of Human and Animal Communication

Does the Language We Use Determine How We See the World?

The claim “No language, no thought” is known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. It suggests that the way we perceive the world is influenced by the language we use.

• Linguistic Determinism (Strong Version): Language completely determines thought. Without the word ‘freedom,’ one cannot even think of freedom. Most linguists today reject this view.
• Linguistic Relativity (Weak Version): Widely accepted today, it states language does not determine thought but influences it. Language is not a prison but a pair of ‘glasses’ coloring how we see the world. For example, Korean words like ‘정 (jeong)’ and ‘한 (han)’ express emotions difficult to translate precisely, helping Korean speakers perceive certain feelings more finely.

Language Is Alive: A Playground of Creation and Play

Language is not a fossil in a museum but a living organism constantly changing and being born anew. When I first heard neologisms like ‘어쩔티비’ (a slang phrase), I felt a generational gap but came to appreciate the conciseness and playfulness in communication, experiencing language’s vitality anew.

• Neologisms and Buzzwords: Terms like ‘세젤예’ (the most beautiful in the world) and ‘낄끼빠빠’ (know when to join or leave) reflect the culture and values of their time.
• Poetry and Songs: Poetic license, such as intentionally breaking spelling rules to intensify emotion (e.g., “노오란”), showcases the artistic nature of language.
• Wordplay: Puns like “오렌지 먹은 지 얼마나 오랜지?” (How long has it been since you ate an orange?) use sound similarity to highlight language’s flexibility and fun.

Conclusion

So, what exactly is language? This long journey reveals that language is hard to define in a single sentence.

• First, language is a sophisticated structural system. It builds an infinite world of meaning from meaningless sounds through words and sentences.
• Second, language is a uniquely human cognitive tool. It is completed with special recipes like creativity and displacement that no other animal can imitate.
• Third, language is a living organism. It reflects society and culture, constantly changes, and serves as material for art and play.

Ultimately, exploring language is exploring ourselves. What thoughts and cultures do the words and sentences you use today carry?