Words

The most human thing about being human is the utilization of words in communication, effectively linking sound and language to aid in the verbalization of thought. Language, and the way it is used by individuals, is acquired from those around them, and the environment that they are exposed to. As people are immersed in it everyday, language is something that is picked up quickly, and becomes a complex action that is simplified over a short period of time.
As humans grow and evolve over years, so does the language that they speak. New words and expressions are constantly being created. For example, with over 40, 000 words in the English language, statements are expressed at every moment that have never been uttered before. With that many words, there is no limit to the amount of combinations that one person can articulate. Essentially, the more words you know, the better arsenal you possess to produce original statements. With this in mind, there are many phrases that could be used to portray what a word is, but really trying to explain what a word is in words is like a definition defining itself.
As fine-tuned as this method of communication is, there are still grey areas, and structure that requires abiding by limitations. If a picture were worth a thousand words, then most people would prefer to just display a photo rather than describe an image, which may span numerous pages of text. That is where verbal and written language loses their productivity. Finer thought may also be difficult to express through words, and all the while the mind may become distracted or preoccupied with adhering to specific guidelines regarding grammar.
Although other animals may have their own ‘languages’ of squeals and barks, humans are the only ones that have developed a system of syntax, and the only ones to have recorded their thoughts in written form. Being able to communicate this way has given us an edge over other creatures. To express abstract thought and to plan beyond the season are not concepts that other living things have the chance to indulge upon, and to truly live and move past mere existence is a luxury that we owe mostly to the deep thought that only a human’s complicated mind can generate; these thoughts are then reiterated through language.