Final answer:
Language and symbols are used to create a system of communication through which culture is transmitted. Language is closely intertwined with identity and allows individuals to express themselves and interact with others. It enables individuals to convey specific information, express emotions, and influence others.
Step-by-step explanation:
Language and Symbols
Language is a system that uses symbols with which people communicate and through which culture is transmitted. Letters (which make up words), pictographs, and hand gestures are all symbols that create a language used for communication. Sign language, for example, requires an intimate knowledge not only of an alphabet but also of signs that represent entire words and the meaning indicated by certain facial expressions or postures. Its grammar differs from the spoken language. As spoken language is different across regions, nations and cultures, and can even differ by the age of the person, so too does sign language.
Expressing Identity and Culture
The language you use signals the ways in which you are rooted in specific culture or groups of people who share common beliefs and lived experiences. Language is closely intertwined with self-image and community affiliations. It allows individuals to think, communicate, and interact most freely with others.
Communication and Human Experience
Language is a means through which individuals within a society communicate and express themselves. It is used to give and seek information, express and react to emotions, and persuade others to think or act in certain ways. Basic communication forms, such as smiling or adopting certain physical stances, may be instinctive, but language allows for more specific communication.