Final answer:
Language is a symbol-based system unique to humans that goes beyond animal communication due to its complexity and flexibility. It encompasses not only spoken and written words but also non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and gestures. Language is central to cultural transmission and societal interaction, showcasing the diversity of human communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discussing the various forms of communication that could be considered language entails exploring how humans employ symbols to share information and express ideas. While many species have their communication methods, including postures, movements, and vocalizations, it is language that distinctly exemplifies human interaction. Language uses words as symbols representing a range of meanings, from tangible objects to complex emotions and concepts. Additionally, humans communicate non-verbally through facial expressions and gestures, supplementing linguistic messages and sometimes serving as standalone communicative acts.
Components of Language: Language is not a monolithic structure but a versatile system of communication that includes body language accompanying words, shifts according to medium such as text or email, and varies between different cultures and age groups. It's important to note that language is a culturally transmitted system of symbols — it is not only about spoken words but also about written words, sign language, and even other forms like pictographs. The cultural and social norms of a society are often conveyed and learned through its language. While the complexity of human language sets it apart from animal communication, it remains interconnected with the evolutionary development of human societies. This complexity affords humans the unique ability to convey an infinite array of detailed and nuanced information, influencing our thought processes and effectively shaping our reality and culture. Practices such as libation in Ghana or the diverse ways of communication, including whistling languages or clicking sounds, across different communities worldwide, showcase the rich variety embedded in human language.