In the context of human language, the terms "creativity" and "arbitrariness" refer to two important properties of language.
1. Creativity: Creativity, also known as productivity or generativity, refers to the ability of language users to produce and comprehend an infinite number of novel and meaningful sentences. It means that humans can generate and understand sentences that they have never heard before by combining words and rules of their language. Unlike other communication systems found in the animal kingdom, human language is not limited to a fixed set of predefined messages or signals. Instead, it allows for the creation of new expressions and the conveyance of new ideas.
Creativity in language is made possible by the underlying system of grammar. The rules of grammar enable language users to combine words and structures in new and creative ways, forming grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. This ability to generate novel utterances is one of the hallmarks of human language and sets it apart from other forms of communication.
2. Arbitrariness: Arbitrariness is the property of language where the relationship between linguistic forms (words or signs) and their meanings is arbitrary and conventional. In other words, there is no inherent connection between the sounds or symbols used in a language and the meaning they convey. For example, the English word "dog" does not resemble the actual animal it represents. The association between the word "dog" and the concept of a four-legged, domesticated mammal is based on social agreement or convention within a particular language community.
This arbitrary nature of language allows for great flexibility and creativity in linguistic expression. Different languages may assign different sounds or signs to represent the same concepts, and there is no universal or inherent connection between the form and meaning of words. Language users learn and internalize these arbitrary associations through social interaction and cultural transmission.
The properties of creativity and arbitrariness in human language contribute to its expressive power, allowing for the generation of an infinite number of meaningful utterances and enabling effective communication and the transmission of complex ideas within a linguistic community.
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