An introduction to English Language and Linguistics

Language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves.

Every human knows at least one language, spoken or signed. Linguistics is the science of language, including the sounds, words, and grammar rules. When you know a language, you know words in that language, i.e. sound units that are related to specific meanings. However, the sounds and meanings of words are arbitrary.