Accord Quote by Noam Chomsky
“There is no reason to believe ... that the "essential purpose" of language is "communication". ... Language can be used to transmit information, but it also serves many other purposes: to establish relations among people, to express or clarify thought, for play, for creative mental activity, to gain understanding, and so on. In my opinion, there is no reason to accord privileged status to one or the other of these modes.”
About This Quote
Language serves many functions beyond communication, including relation‑building, play, and creativity, so no single purpose should dominate.
In simple terms: Language does more than convey information.
Key Takeaway
Value all language functions equally.
Themes
language
communication
creativity
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- media
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
linguistics
social interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you use language creatively?
- When does play enhance understanding?
A Different Perspective
Prioritizing one function can limit expression.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
