Generally, there are many uses of language (symbols, words, sentences) as presented by the philosopher called Wittgenstein. Some use language; in describing the appearance of an object, in giving its measurements, in reporting an event; in presenting the results of an experiment, in making a story, in making a joke and telling it, in solving problems in logic, giving orders, thanking, asking questions, making jokes, cursing greeting, praying etc. These general uses can further be divided into;

• Language is used for communication ideas and information. i.e used to accept or deny propositions, to describe things; to correct things; to reason things out.
• Language is used for giving directives. E.g. when a parent tells the child to wash his hands the intention is not to communicate but to get results or to cause action for the indicated kind. Commands and request are examples of directive roles
•  Language is used in expressing emotions, feelings or attitudes, Some examples include; ‘that’s too bad’,we’eh, oh my lord, ‘Ashia’ all these express sorrow, secondly. ‘Wow’, oh yeh, express enthusiasm, thirdly, ‘shut up’, ‘get lost’ ‘disappear’ are orders and finally darling, Cherie, Oh baby’, ‘sweat heart’ express the lovers passion. We can distinguish four functions of language. Two of these human languages share with animal languages and two of which are purely human languages. These two sets have usually been termed ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ functions of language. The two lower functions shared by both human and animal include;
• The expressive functions of language: that is communication is the essence of language and for communication to take place there must first be a sender (releaser) reacting or stimulus and the response comes from the second organism turning it to a signal. The movement of the dogs tail was clearly part of his language of happiness, the sexual dance-song of the cock and the reaction of the hen demonstrates the stimulus-response functions of language in animals. The higher functions of humans of language.
• The performative functions of language. A performative utterance is one that when uttered in the right situation actually performs the act it appears to report or describe. e,g I will ; I promise; I congratulate you… ……… I apologize for my………I suggest that.
• The descriptive functions of language: this higher function of human language is important in the evolution of reasoning and rationality. This function clearly distinguishes human language from animal languages. Whenever a human being speaks and another listens, the two functions are bound to be present
• The argumentative functions of language: this is the critical and rational attitude that facilitated the evolution and development of science. This is the highest function of language that has had an important effect on the human ability to think rationally. That is why logic has been described as an ‘’ organon’’ of critical arguments.