1. Naturalistic (biological ) approach to language
Development of a naturalistic approach to language associated with the name of the great German explorer August Schleicher ( 1821-1868 ) . Most clearly naturalistic philosophy of language Schleicher presented in such works as " Darwin's theory and the science of language " , 1863, "The value of language for the natural history of man" in 1865 . According to the basic principle of naturalistic direction linguistics adjacent to naturalistic studies. The difference between the natural and historical sciences is may or may not influence the will of the people on the subject of science : the natural sciences in the rule of law , independent of the will of the people ; in the historical sciences can not avoid subjectivity . In " Darwin's theory and the science of language " Sh bluntly stated that " the laws established by Darwin for plant and animal species are applicable , at least in its main features to organisms and languages." Most clearly the influence of Darwin's theory is manifested in shifting Schleicher provisions of the struggle for existence in the flora and fauna on the tongue. W convinced that in this period of human life winners in the struggle for existence are predominantly Indo-Germanic languages tribe. Sh carries on languages installed Darwin law variability of species . According to him, those languages , according to botanists and zoologists, would constitute a species of the same genus , in linguistics recognized for the children of a common primary language from which they originated through gradual changes.
Proximity to natural language organisms Schleicher also sees the ability to language evolution. In this regard, Schleicher said : "Life is not substantially different language from the life of all other living organisms - plants and animals ." As these last , he has a period of growth from simple structures to more complex forms and the aging period in which languages are increasingly moving away from the highest stage of development reached by their shape and suffer damage.
For all the shortcomings naturalistic trend in linguistics should be considered as a stage of the translational motion of the science of language . Should be considered as a valuable pursuit representatives of this trend , in particular Schleicher , applied to the study of language precise methods of the natural sciences. Erroneous concept in Schleicher . and his followers was too straightforward transfer of the language laws found in biological organisms that actually grow, develop , and then grow decrepit and die. Languages , of course, also arise , evolve and sometimes die . But this is not the death of the biological and socio- historical. Language dies only with the disappearance of the speaker on it society, the collective people.
However, despite the erroneous nature of naturalistic concepts in linguistics , you should always consider the fact that the comparison with the first living organism contributed approval systemic view of language as an object , which has its structure.
2 . Mental approach to language
Another well-known view of the nature and essence of language - is that language - mental phenomenon . One of the most prominent representatives , who represented a psychological point of view on language was Steinthal Gaiman ( 1823-1899 ) . Most clearly and consistently presented Steinthal psychological concept in his " Grammar , logic and psychology, their principles and relationships ." Steinthal considered the language of mental phenomenon , which develops on the basis of the laws of psychology He denied the role of thinking in the development of language, attaching importance to the psyche. Schleicher logic . completely excluded , arguing that "the category of language and logic are not compatible as little can be correlated with each other as the concept of the circle and red ." Thus, Shteytal categorically denied involvement in the development of thinking first . All attention Shtental focuses on the individual act of speech , considering the language as a mental phenomenon order.
3 . Language - a social phenomenon
Finally, there is a view that language is a social phenomenon .
Language of the individual depends on the environment and is influenced by the speech team. If small children are subjected to conditions of life of animals , they acquire skills and animal life irrevocably lose all human.
Dane Hjelmslev in his book, " Prolegomena to a Theory of Language " provides a comprehensive characterization of language as a phenomenon : "The language of human speech - an inexhaustible variety of treasures. Language is inseparable from the man and followed him in all his actions . Language - a tool by which people thought forms and feelings, moods , desires, will and action. Language tool by which a person influences people , while others affect it. Language - the primary and most essential foundation of human society. But he also needed the ultimate support of the human person , in the shelter of man hours loneliness, when the mind comes to grips with life and conflict razrozhdaetsya monologue poet or thinker. But language is not an external phenomenon that accompanies a person. He is deeply connected with the human mind . This wealth memory inherited personality and tribe. language so deeply taken root in individual, family , nation , humanity and life that we sometimes can not help but question whether the language is not simply a reflection of the phenomena , but their embodiment , the seed from which they grew up. For these reasons, the language has always attracted the attention of a man , he wondered , was described in poetry and science. Science has viewed language as a sequence of sounds and expressive gestures, the availability of accurate physical and physiological description. Language is seen as a system of signs and how sustainable education used as the key to the system of human thought. "
4 . Language as a system of signs
Language is seen as a system of signs . Sign - can be defined as a kind of material unit , to create a language as a phenomenon.
With respect to the term sign language can be determined by the following paragraphs :
1. Sign shall be of a material that is, it must be accessible to sense perception , as well as any thing.
2 . Sign does not matter, but aims at a value for that it exists .
3 . Contents sign does not match the characteristics of the material , while the content of things exhausted its material characteristics.
4 . Contents character is defined by its distinctive features , allocated and analytically separable from nerazlichitelnyh .
5 . Language functions by Buhler
Austrian psychologist , philosopher and linguist Karl Bühler, describing in his book " Theory of Language " different direction sign language defines three basic functions of language :
Language Functions on Buhler :
1) function expression or expressive function when expressed state of the speaker.
2) function call , referring to the listener , or appellative function .
3) The representation function , or a representative , when one or the other says something tells .
6. Language functions on Reformatskii
There are other points of view on the functions performed by the language, such as understand them Reformat AA
1) nominative , ie words of the language can call things and phenomena of reality .
2) communicative ; Serve this purpose offers .
3) Expressive , expressed her thanks to the emotional state of the speaker.
As part of the expressive function can still distinguish deictic ( pointing ) function that combines some elements of language with gestures .
