*What's a language*?

By prof. Abdelhamid Fouda 

 1_*What's language*?

Language can be defined in many ways, but its simplest definition is that it is a source of communication. Through language, people communicate with each others. Sometimes, when a person is asked what a language is, he/she says that language is something which can be written. But this definition is wrong. Language is not only written, but it has some other forms  as well. For example, if there are two persons, who can't speak. So how'll they communicate? Isn't this difficult for them to speak? Yes! It is difficult. But there is a solution to this problem. They have another way of communication, that's called as *Sign language*. Through sign language, they can communicate with each other. Similarly, paintings also say something to us. That's also a source of communication, i.e a language. So thinking of a language to be written only is something that makes no sense. 

2. *What's communication*?

When a person says something, i.e he/she shares information with others, talks to people, explains his/her views to others, expresses his/her views and  ideas, this is communication. Some people communicate through words, some through paintings, some others through signs and symbols and so on. Communication is not limited to writing only. It includes everything, from which we can get some message.

3. *What is the difference between alphabet and letter*?

Both the terms are sometimes confused. But there is difference between them. *Alphabet* is related to written language i.e when we write *A,B,C,...Z*, these are called as alphabet and English language has 26 alphabet . While letter  is spoken. When we pronounce/give sound to the alphabet i.e when we write *A* and pronounce it as well, then it becomes a letter. Similarly when a character is written individually, it is a letter but collectively they all from A to Z are called alphabet.

4. *What's grammar*?

Grammar can be interpreted in various ways. One among its simple definitions is: *The rules and regulations of any language* . Or *The rules and regulations of any language, which shows the right place of a word in a sentence*. Often, people say we don't know what's  grammar but they are wrong. If you write a sentence i.e *I school going am* and ask them whether this sentence is correct or incorrect, they'll say, it's incorrect as the words order is incorrect. So it shows that they know what grammar is, but they think of grammar if it is the combination of some very difficult and much unfamiliar rules and regulations of which they are unaware.