Language

Definition

One avenue for the communication of thoughts, feelings, and/or ideas, language is comprised of symbols (i.e., vocabulary/words), which are socially agreed upon by members of a given community/culture (e.g., American-English, French, Spanish, etc.), and includes various regional dialects within those communities/cultures. Language requires the rule-governed use of these symbols (e.g., use of grammar, putting words together to form complete sentences, etc.) and typically includes four domains: (1) verbal expression (e.g., speaking aloud), (2) written expression (e.g., composing a letter, an e-mail, or an essay, etc.), (3) auditory comprehension (e.g., the understanding what others say aloud), and (4) reading comprehension (e.g., the understanding of written text). In the deaf culture, however, various (unspoken) sign languages may be used in lieu of spoken language (e.g., American Sign Language, language does not include the motoric act of moving the articulators (e.g., the...