Conclusion

The importance language plays in our life can’t be underestimated yet it often goes unnoticed. By the time we’re just a handful of years old we’re all expert language users who can speak or sign, and understand when people talk to us.

But the expertise we have in using language doesn’t translate into knowing how language works, how particular languages (like English) have developed over the centuries, and the impact this history can have on the way we use language today. It’s for this reason that understanding a little about these things, and learning about the nature of language and the manifold ways in which we use it, can help us understand ourselves that much better.

Interested in taking your learning further? You might find it helpful to explore the Open University’s English language courses and qualifications [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .