We even behave inappropriately when communicating with someone who speaks a different language than we do. It can't, but people often find themselves yelling at someone who does not understand, repeating the same ineffective sounds over and over. To begin a discussion of language we need to determine the things that make a language. If we begin to examine a language we find that it is not as simple as it looks. First let's think about the purpose of language.
Language exists to communicate ideas.
I am trying to bring thoughts to your mind about the process of language. I do this by turning my thought into words, and those words into symbols that you see on your monitor. Each language has rules that limit how these units can be combined. Since English is common to everyone reading this page, let's examine the structure of the English language. Spoken English is made up of sounds.