Discuss the definition of Language and the linguistic concepts of competence and performance.

INTRODUCTION Many linguists agree that there is no all-encompassing definition of Language. However, language is generally described as a system of sounds used to link sound using words and sentences to meaning (Finegan & Besnier 1989, p. 1). Language can be described as a symbolic system in which sounds and meanings are assigned to each other, allowing humans to communicate what we are thinking and how we are feeling. In other words, there is an arbitrary aspect …

…not as creative as human language and is often stimulus driven. As well, Chomsky views language as something that is biologically and genetically inherited in humans (Finch 2000). List of References Cited Finch, G. (2000) Linguistic Terms and Concepts (New York: Palgrave). Finch, G. (1998) How to Study Linguistics (London: Macmillan). Finegan, E, and Besinger, N. (1989) Language: Its Structure and Use (New York: Harcourt Brace). Fromkin, V. and Rodoman, R. (1993) An Introduction to Language (New York: Harcourt Brace).