主題：什麼是語言?
重點內容：
前言 - 什麼事語言？
- 世界上現存有多少種語言？
- 人類語言特色
- 廣東話是「地道方言」或「語言」?yp
- 結語
前言
什麼是語言？
語言是一套由詞語、聲音和符號組成的系統。人們利用語言彼此溝通。語言讓我們能夠表達自己的思想、感受、想法和經歷。
世界上現存有多少種語言？
現存的語言大約有7000種，這包括了「語言」和「地道方言」。可是，如果要準確地統計出有多少種語言？那是很困難的。因為某些地方或民族會不斷有着變化。一些「地道方言」會隨著當地最後一個人的死亡而消失。也就是說，這種語言便不可能再有人使用那種「地道方言」或「語言」了。
人類語言特色
語言具有以書寫為主的「書面語」和以口述、手勢或符號為主的「地道方言」。這些都是在人與人之間，耳語相傳的「地道方言」但兩者也都是是屬於人類語言。
其實，世上每一種人類語言，都是一套具有規則和邏輯在背後支持和解釋的複雜系統。而另一種「地道方言」，則主要以人們口耳相傳，並沒有一套複雜的語言書寫系統。而這些口語，人們主要用於身體語言、口耳相傳或以手勢來溝通和表達。
然而，每一種語言都有其自己的詞彙、語法和讀音。語言在人類日常生活中，扮演着非常重要的角色。無論在人類日常相互溝通、建立人際關係、文化和歷史傳承、分享個人知識和經驗、以致瞭解不同地域文化上，都是一種不可或缺的溝通工具。
廣東話究竟是語言？抑或是「地道方言」？
這是一個爭議的話題。從語言學角度來看，廣東話是「漢語」的分支；並且是由傳統的中文（繁體）字組成和衍生出來的。這些都是歷經幾千年的累積得來的。其中包括：漢語文字、詩詞歌賦、歷史文獻和哲學思想等等。在在這些都是有着源遠流長的歷史、文化和民族身份的認同。而普通話和簡體字則是現在的＂官話““，在某程度上是缺乏歷史、文化、身份認同的因素來支持的。
並且，使用繁體字來形容傳統的正體字，那是有點不恰當的。因為傳統正體中文字，已經有幾千年歷史了。試想想，英國人會說這這是簡體英文、那是繁體英文嗎?
結語
誠言，語言是文化的載體，它承載着着着當代人類政治、文化、歷史、哲學和宗教思的寶貴知識和經驗。那是一份祖先流傳下來的無價寶。
如果一個國家，不懂得尊重傳統的語言和文化，
任意妄為地隨意刪減，對於這個民族是一個災難性的毁滅。
Topic: What Is Language?
Key Points
- Introduction
- How many languages currently exist in the world?
- Characteristics of human language
- Is Cantonese a “native dialect” or a language?
- Conclusion
Introduction- What is language?
Language is a system consisting of words, sounds, and symbols. People use language to communicate with one another. Language enables us to express our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences.
How many languages currently exist in the world?
There are approximately 7,000 languages currently in existence. This includes both “languages” and “native dialects.” However, it is difficult to determine exactly how many languages there are in the world because languages and communities are constantly changing.
Some “native dialects” disappear when the last person who speaks them dies. In other words, once the last speaker has passed away, there may be no one left who can use or speak that particular “native dialect” or “language.”
Characteristics of Human Language
Language includes written forms, which are primarily used for writing, as well as spoken forms, gestures, and symbols that are mainly used for oral communication. These are forms of “native dialects” passed down from person to person through speech and everyday communication. Nevertheless, both written and spoken forms are part of human language.
In fact, every human language in the world is a complex system supported and explained by its own rules and logic. Other forms of “native dialects,” however, are mainly passed down orally from one generation to another and may not have a complex written language system.
People primarily use these spoken forms through body language, oral communication, and gestures to communicate and express themselves.
Nevertheless, every language has its own vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Language plays an extremely important role in human daily life. It is an indispensable means of communication—not only for everyday interaction and the establishment of interpersonal relationships, but also for the transmission of culture and history, the sharing of personal knowledge and experience, and the understanding of cultures from different regions.
Is Cantonese a Language or a “Native Dialect”?
This is a controversial topic. From a linguistic perspective, Cantonese is a branch of the Chinese language. It has also developed from and is written using traditional Chinese characters. These have accumulated over thousands of years and include the Chinese written language, poetry and literature, historical documents, philosophical thought, and much more.
All of these represent a long and continuous history, culture, and sense of ethnic and cultural identity. Mandarin and Simplified Chinese characters, on the other hand, are the current “official language” and writing system. To some extent, they lack the same historical, cultural, and identity-related elements that support the traditional forms.
Furthermore, describing traditional Chinese characters as “Traditional Characters” can itself be somewhat inappropriate, because traditional Chinese characters have a history spanning thousands of years. Just imagine: would people in Britain say that one is “Simplified English” and another is “Traditional English”?
Conclusion
To be honest, language is a carrier of culture. It preserves valuable knowledge and experience relating to contemporary human politics, culture, history, philosophy, and religion. It is an invaluable treasure passed down to us by our ancestors.
If a country does not understand the importance of respecting its traditional language and culture, and instead arbitrarily removes or reduces parts of them, the consequences for that nation and its people can be devastating.
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