Aitchison's 10 features of language include "spontaneous usage." Which of the following is the best example of this feature?
A) Birds respond to the singing of another bird.
B) Children learn to speak without being explicitly taught to do so.
C) Language is used to express ideas that have never been expressed before.
D) We learn language within our families.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spontaneous usage refers to the ability to produce language without being explicitly taught to do so. Children learning to speak without being taught is the best example of this feature. Option A refers to a response to a stimulus and is not related to spontaneous usage. Option C refers to creativity, which is a different feature of language. Option D refers to language acquisition within a specific social group, which is related to another feature of language.

Aitchison's 10 Features of Language Include "Spontaneous Usage