LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

BRGY. DEL REMEDIO, SAN PABLO CITY, LAGUNA

Graduate Studies and Applied Research

COURSE CODE: EDUC. 202

COURSE TITLE: FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION
TOPIC: IMPORTANCE AND FUNCTIONS OF
LANGUAGE
PROFESSOR: DR. AGRIPINA F. BANAYO, ED. D
REPORTER: JEALLY-ANN M. ENCALLADO, MA –
FILIPINO
EMAIL ADDRESS: jeallyann17@gmail.com
BIRTHDAY: APRIL 17, 1990

IMPORTANCE AND FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Intended Learning Outcome

1. Understand the importance and functions of language.

2. Analyze the function of language for the Linguistic students.
3. Express the ideas to the subject matter.

What is Language?

Language is importance because knowledge and information

are accumulated and maintained. Since language is a form of
learned behaviour by which people communicate with each
other it becomes a potent vehicle in which culture is passed on
from generation to generation.
Language is also a way of bringing people close to one another
and consequently, fosters the feeling of acceptance and
belongingness.
Language itself serves as a means of communication and as a
means of sharing ideas and feelings. It is a tool that is often
used in day-to-day communication. Through language, humans
can transfer variety of messages, either for himself or for
another person.
The importance of language cannot be overemphasized
because it is the primary means through which culture is shared
and transmitted.

Elements of Language
Every language has three parts, such as:

1. Phonology (phonemics, phonetics) – This is the system

consisting of sounds in human speech conveying significant
meaning.
2. Grammar (morphology) – This is the study of the formal features
of a language, as the sounds, morphemes, words and
sentences according to definite rules so that a complete thought
is expressed.
3. Vocabulary (lexicon) – The stock of words used by or known to
a particular person with the important meanings.

Linguistic Structure

1. Phonemes – any of the small set of basic units of sound,

different for each language; by which utterances are
represented.
2. Morphemes – any of the minimal grammatical units of language
that cannot be divided into smaller independence grammatical
parts.
3. Morphology – this is the study of meaningful set of sounds in a
language.
4. Syntax – this is the study of the structure of grammatical
sentences in a language.

Structural (or descriptive) linguistics try to discover the rules of

phonology (patterning of sounds, morphology (the patterning of sound
sequences and words) and syntax (the patterning of phrases and
sentences that predict how most speakers of language talk.

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE IN LINGUISTICS

1. Language as means of communication – it serves as means of

communications between members of the public. The function is
used in a variety of environments, levels and interest are diverse

Ex. Scientific communication, business communication, workplace

communication, social communication, and cultural communication.

2. Language as a means adaptation - people can express their

views together.

Ex. the reliability of the work in an institution

The integrity of the employees in a department
Family honour
3. Language as a means of social control – language is a social
control so that people involved in the communication can
understand each other. Every gestures and symbols indicates
the direction of communication in society.
 Ex. rules, statutes, laws – laws, and others – others

4. Language as a means to understand oneself – a person can

know him and other if he understands himself. By understanding
of him, someone will be able to build character learn positive
image to create new vision.
5. Language as a means to understand the other person – for
effectiveness of communication, one needs to understand
another person, such as in understanding him.
6. Language as a means of observing the environment around –
language is a tool to observe the problem and give real life
solutions.
7. Language as a tool for self – expression – we use language to
express the feelings, emotion and passion. As adults, we use
language, both to express them and to communicate.

Reference:

Zuleta, Foundation of Education

http://notesread.com/functions-of-language/