Hamburg, Germany

Sign language

Gebärdensprachen

Master's
Language: GermanStudies in German
Subject area: languages
Qualification: Master
Kind of studies: full-time studies, part-time studies
University website: www.uni-hamburg.de
Language
Language is a system that consists of the development, acquisition, maintenance and use of complex systems of communication, particularly the human ability to do so; and a language is any specific example of such a system.
Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms signify a disease. A conventional sign signifies by agreement, as a full stop signifies the end of a sentence; similarly the words and expressions of a language, as well as bodily gestures, can be regarded as signs, expressing particular meanings. The physical objects most commonly referred to as signs (notices, road signs, etc., collectively known as signage) generally inform or instruct using written text, symbols, pictures or a combination of these.
Language
Evolution teaches us the original purpose of language was to ritualize men's threats and curses, his spells to compel the gods; communication came later.
Gene Wolfe, "The Death of Doctor Island", Universe 3 (1973), ed. Terry Carr; reprinted in The Best of Gene Wolfe (2009).
Language
Oft on the dappled turf at ease
I sit, and play with similes,
Loose type of things through all degrees.
William Wordsworth, To the Daisy.
Language
Language is the only instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.
Samuel Johnson, Preface to his English Dictionary.
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