Language and its Function: Logic
• Language is the medium used by humans.
• Language is inherent in humans.
• It is a vehicle for communication.
• Language is a set of symbols by which humans communicate their ideas, feelings, thoughts,
and the like to others.
2 General Features of Language:
1. Spoken – sound patterns (linguistically accepted sounds that can be understood by others).
2. Written – visual patterns.
3. Non-Verbal – communication through gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
Basic Functions of Language:
1. Informative Language – conveys information (not necessarily true).
2. Expressive Language – expresses feelings; often includes exclamatory sentences.
3. Directive Function of Language – used to give commands or make requests.
Multiplicity of the Usage of Language:
• I+D, I+E, E+D, or I+E+D.
1. I+D (Informative + Directive):
o Example: Run faster, or I will catch you.
2. I+E (Informative + Expressive):
o Example: I hate you!
3. D+E (Directive + Expressive):
o Example: Look how beautiful the weather is, class.
4. I+D+E (Informative + Directive + Expressive):
o Example 1: Look, our room is on fire!
o Example 2: Nak, it's five in the morning! Wake up, you have school!
Concepts and Terms
A concept is the mental representation of an object by the intellect, through which a person
comprehends something. It is the mental image or idea about an object, formed through simple
apprehension.
Types of Concepts:
1. First Intention and Second Intention concepts;
2. Concrete Concepts and Abstract Concepts;
3. Absolute Concepts and Connotative Concepts; and
4. Positive Concepts and Negative Concepts.
• First Intention Concept: Refers to what a thing is in reality, regardless of how the mind
perceives it.
• Second Intention Concept: Based on how the mind thinks about something, rather than its
reality.
Example: Papaya fruit (in the context of green jokes, this concept is second intention).
• Concrete Concept: Refers to something tangible (can be perceived by the senses), e.g., pen,
paper.
• Abstract Concept: Refers to something intangible (cannot be perceived by the senses), e.g.,
love, anger, beauty.
• Absolute Concept: Can exist on its own, e.g., a phone.
• Connotative Concept: Cannot exist on its own and implies something else, e.g., Samsung
phone, Apple phone (refers to the brand or type of phone).
Example: Man is absolute, whereas the race of man is connotative.
• Positive Concept: Refers to the possession or existence of something, e.g., good (possesses
goodness), healthy.
• Negative Concept: Refers to the absence or non-possession of something, e.g., bad (absence
of goodness), unhealthy.
Term
A term is the external representation of a concept. It is the fundamental structure of a proposition.
Types of Terms:
1. The first four types of concepts.
2. Contradictory Terms.
3. Relative Terms.
4. Univocal Terms.
5. Equivocal Terms.
6. Analogous Terms.
• Relative Terms: Terms that cannot be discussed without reference to another, e.g., boyfriend
and girlfriend.
• Contrary Terms: Represent two extremes with a possible middle ground, e.g., heavy and
light, long and short.
• Contradictory Terms: One term affirms what the other denies, e.g., alive and dead, truth and
lie.
• Univocal Terms: Terms that appear in at least two contexts with the same meaning.
Example:
o Every monkey is an animal.
o He looks like a monkey
Even though the terms may appear different, they convey the same meaning (both
refer to animals).
• Equivocal Terms: Terms that appear in at least two contexts but have different meanings.
Example:
o Elizabeth is the Queen of England.
o A queen moves laterally and diagonally (referring to chess).
Here, "queen" has different meanings in each sentence.
• Analogous Terms: Terms that are partly the same, but not entirely the same.
Example:
o "Sumakit yung paa ko pagdating namin sa paa ng bundok." (The word "paa" refers to
both a foot and the base of a mountain, but the meanings are different).
o "Umiyak ako sa pag-iyak ng langit." (The attribute of crying is shared, but it refers to
different things: a person crying and rain falling).
