We use language primarily as a means of communication with
other human beings. Each of us shares with the community in which we
live a store of words and meanings as well as agreeing conventions as
to the way in which words should be arranged to convey a particular
message: the English speaker has iii his disposal at vocabulary and a
set of grammatical rules which enables him to communicate his
thoughts and feelings, ill a variety of styles, to the other English
speakers. His vocabulary, in particular, both that which he uses active-
[y and that which he recognises, increases ill size as he grows
old as a result of education and experience.
But, whether the language store is relatively1 small or large, the system
remains2 no more, than a psychological reality for tike inpidual, unless
he has a means of expressing it in terms able to be seen by another
member of his linguistic3 community; he bas to give tile system a
concrete transmission form. We take it for granted rice two most
common forms of transmission-by means of sounds produced by our
vocal4 organs or by visual signs . And these are
among most striking of human achievements.
PART IV
1. agreeing-agreed
2. in which可有可无
3. in his disposal- at his disposal
4.enables-enable
5.the other English speakers-other English speakers
6.old-older
7.seen-understood
8.take it for granted- take for granted
9.or-and
10. the most striking of human achievements
