The Theory of Internal Compensation in Language Systems

Abstract

This essay elaborates as thoroughly as possible the theory of internal compensation of the natural language system, and proves that the general distinctive function, which vanishes because of the loss or decrease of one or more sub-systems or units with their distinctive function, will be compensated with the increase of others or something new to guarantee the general balance of the whole system and fulfill the need of communication. By just discussing some phenomena of internal compensation at the phonological level here, this essay reveals some interesting rules and gives new explanations to some phenomena that have not been explained or not explained properly, then prove the theory’s function of explanation.

Keywords

• language system
• internal compensation
• phonological level