Spoken language

We use sounds to talk to each other.

Some people use hands to talk too. This is called sign language.

Talking is how we share our thoughts. It helps us connect with friends.

Humans are the only animals that use language. We use it to make many new messages.

Children learn to talk from those around them. They pick up the ways people speak.

It is good to know more than one way to talk. Learning many ways helps us learn more.

People use language to share thoughts.

Most people use sounds to talk. This is called oral language. Some people use sign language instead. This uses hand shapes and motion. Both ways are types of spoken language.

Spoken language is very special. It uses small patterns to make words. In oral language, these are sounds. In sign language, these are parts of a sign. This study is called phonology. Humans are the only animals that use language. We can make a huge number of new messages.

Language started long ago in prehistory. It came before writing. Writing is a tool that humans made later. Speech is a natural skill for humans. We learn our first language from those around us. Children pick up the signs or sounds they see and hear. It is good for children to learn many languages. This helps them in school and with friends.

Spoken language is a special way humans share ideas.

People use it to communicate through sounds or signs. Some experts call this oral language or vocal language. This helps tell it apart from written language. It can also include sign language. These languages are often ephemeral, which means they happen once. They are not easily kept like a book. You can use recordings to save them now. But naturally, spoken language is a fleeting moment.

Every spoken language uses a structured system. It relies on small patterns called phonemes. In oral languages, these are sounds like vowels. They also include consonants and tones. In sign languages, phonemes are different. They use handshape, location, and motion. The study of these patterns is called phonology. These rules allow people to make many messages. You can create an infinite number of new thoughts. This is a major part of being human.

Language began a very long time ago. It started in human prehistory. This was long before anyone invented writing. Because of this, the start of language is the start of spoken language. We do not know the exact way it started. This happened before recorded history began. Scientists have many ideas about this process. They study it in biology and linguistics. They also look at it in anthropology. These experts try to solve the mystery of our origins.

Humans are unique in how we communicate. Other animals can communicate with each other. However, only humans use a true language system. Our ancestors likely used gestures and sounds. These grew into the complex systems we use today. Some experts say speech is a natural human skill. They believe writing is a tool we invented later. Other groups, like the Prague school, have different ideas. They think written and spoken languages are quite distinct.

Children learn language in a natural way. They pick up the language used around them. This could be vocal sounds or signs. Deaf children can learn using sign language. They can also use Cued Speech. This happens if they see it used often. Hearing children must be taught how to write. But they pick up speaking more naturally. It is very helpful for children to know many languages. This helps them learn and make friends in school.

Spoken language is a structured system used for communication. It involves producing articulate sounds through the vocal tract. Some experts call this oral language or vocal language. These terms help distinguish it from written language. The term spoken language may also include sign languages. This refers to any natural language that is not written down.

Traditionally, spoken language is ephemeral. This means it is communicated only once. It is not easily retrieved after it is produced. Modern technology like audiovisual recording can change this. However, the natural state of speech is fleeting. This is different from written language. Writing aims to represent an enduring message on a physical surface.

All spoken languages rely on a specific mechanism to function. They use distinct patterns called phonemes. These phonemes allow people to select words from a shared vocabulary. In oral languages, phonemes consist of sound patterns. These include vowels, consonants, and tones. In sign languages, the phonemes are different. They involve handshape, location, and motion. The scientific study of these patterns is called phonology. This structured system allows for digital infinity. This means humans can produce an infinite number of new messages. This ability separates human language from unstructured animal communication.

There are different ways to categorize these communication systems. Linguists sometimes use the term spoken language to mean only oral languages. They may use oral or vocal language as synonyms. This excludes sign languages from the definition. Other people use the term spoken to include sign languages. They use it specifically to contrast signs with written transcriptions. Both systems are natural languages. They exist independently of any written code. This distinction is important for how researchers study human interaction.

Language began during human prehistory. It emerged long before the invention of writing systems. Because writing came later, the origin of language is the same as the origin of spoken language. This includes both oral and signed forms. We do not know the exact process of how these systems developed. This occurred before recorded history began. Because of this, the process is a mystery. Scientists use several hypotheses to explain it. They study this mystery through anthropology, linguistics, and evolutionary biology.

Evidence from the natural world helps us understand these origins. Non-human animals are capable of various forms of communication. However, humans are the only animals capable of using true language. Scientists look at animal and primate communication for clues. They suggest human language may have developed from animal gestures. It may also have come from vocalizations produced by human ancestors. This transition led to the complex, rule-based systems we see today. These systems allow for much more complexity than animal signals.

The relationship between speech and writing is quite complex. Most linguists believe speech is an innate human capability. This means humans are born with the ability to speak. In contrast, they view written language as a cultural invention. This suggests writing is a tool humans created later. However, not all experts agree on this view. The Prague school of linguists holds a different perspective. They argue that written and spoken languages have distinct qualities. These qualities suggest that writing might not be entirely dependent on spoken language.

Children acquire spoken language in a very natural way. They learn the language that is used in their environment. This could be a vocal language or a signed language. Deaf children can acquire language through sign language. They can also use Cued Speech if it is used around them. This is a visual communication system. Vocal language is different because it must be taught. Hearing children must be taught how to read and write. However, they pick up spoken language naturally through exposure. It is considered important for children to understand multiple languages. This provides them with social and educational opportunities.