Question:
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
We know it well that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb-nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses uses language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he uses it as an instrument of thought. When the two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. It seems that language is a multipurpose instrument. Language enables us to influence people's behaviour and help develop human co-operation. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language as it makes human co-operation more thorough, more effective and more wide-ranging.
(a) How does language help relieve the man hitting his finger-nails with a hammer?
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
We know it well that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb-nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses uses language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he uses it as an instrument of thought. When the two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. It seems that language is a multipurpose instrument. Language enables us to influence people's behaviour and help develop human co-operation. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language as it makes human co-operation more thorough, more effective and more wide-ranging.
(a) How does language help relieve the man hitting his finger-nails with a hammer?
We know it well that language is used for more than one purpose. The man who hits his thumb-nails with a hammer and utters a string of curses uses language to relieve his feeling and needs no audience but himself. But when a philosopher uses language to clarify his ideas on a subject, he uses it as an instrument of thought. When the two women gossip over the fence or two men exchange greetings as they pass in the street, language is used to strengthen the bonds between the members of society. It seems that language is a multipurpose instrument. Language enables us to influence people's behaviour and help develop human co-operation. The human co-operation would be unthinkable without language as it makes human co-operation more thorough, more effective and more wide-ranging.
(a) How does language help relieve the man hitting his finger-nails with a hammer?
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When answering questions about the emotional use of language, focus on how language serves as an outlet for feelings and emotions.
Updated On: Sep 6, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the context.
The passage describes a situation where a man hits his thumb-nails with a hammer and curses. Language, in this case, serves to express his pain or frustration. The use of curses helps relieve the man's feeling of distress.
Step 2: Function of language.
Language provides an outlet for the man's emotions, allowing him to vent his feelings. This use of language doesn't require an audience but serves to alleviate his discomfort and frustration.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, language helps relieve the man by providing a means for him to express his emotional reaction to pain.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{Language helps relieve the man by allowing him to express his emotional reaction to pain through curses.}} \]
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