THE STYLISTIC FEATURES OF THE CHOICE OF WORDS RENDERED IN GREETINGS BY PEOPLE IN THEIR EXPRESSIONS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This work studies the use of abbreviations in social media focusing on seasonal greetings (Christmas and New year) on whatsapp. It has been noted that the use of abbreviated words on whasapp has become rampant among youths. In this chapter, we look at various theoretical concepts serving as background to the study. These include: language, styles (definition and types) and stylistics. The discussion on social media will be elaborated in the second chapter in which we have various concept.
1.1 LANGUAGE
What is language?
According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, language is:
The system of Communication in speech and writing
that Is used by people of a particular country or area.
The Chamber’s Dictionary also defines language as human speech; the speech of a particular people or nations.
Thinkers such as “ROUSSEAU” and “KANT” have argued that language originated emotion and rational and logical thoughts. The number of language in the world varies between 5000 and 7000. Language in general may refer to the ability to use system of communication or the set of rule that describes or makes up these systems.
In the human brain, language is processed in various parts. Social interaction helps humans to learn language in early age and children speaks fluently when they are almost 3 years old. In human culture, we can see that the use of language is deeply embedded in it. Language also has many social and cultural uses, such as pointing out group identity, social development, and entertainment.
1.1.1 VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF LANGUAGE
A definition describes language as a formal language of signs ruled by grammatical regulations of combination to communicate meaning. This definition shows that the human language consist of rules that relate specific sign to specific meanings, Ferdinand de Saussure was the first to introduce the technical view about language and his structuralism remains foundational for many approaches to language. Another definition states that language is the mental faculty that allows human to learn language and to be able to speak the language.
