1.Language
is
a
system
of
arbitrary
vocal
symbols
used
for
human
communication.
2.Design features refer to the defining properties of human language that
distinguish it from any animal system of communication.
3.Arbitrariness
refers
that
there
is
no
logical
connection
between
a
linguistic symbol and what the symbol stands for(meaning and sounds).
4.Duality means the property of having two levels of structures, such that
units
of the
primary
level
are
composed
of
elements
of
the
secondary
level
and each of the two levels has its own principles of organization.
5.Creativity(productivity)means
language
is
resourceful
because
of
its
duality and recursiveness.
6.Displacement means language can be used to refer to contexts removed
from the immediate situations of the speaker.
7.Cultural
transmission:
language
is
not
biologically
transmitted
from
generation to generation. The details of the linguistic system must be learned
by each speaker.
8.Interchangeability: means that any human being can be both a producer
and a receiver of messages.