“Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.”
— Noam Chomsky
Simplified Meaning:
Language is something we can shape and play with within certain rules. Think of it like building with LEGO bricks. The bricks (words) come in specific shapes and sizes, and they connect in fixed ways (grammar rules). However, what we build with those bricks can be anything we imagine—a car, a house, or a spaceship. In the same way, when we talk or write, we have the freedom to create endless sentences and ideas even though we use the same basic words and grammar. Let's look at how people use slang or create new expressions. "Cool" originally meant not warm, but now it can mean something stylish or impressive. This shows how we can take words and give them new meanings based on how we use them. The way we understand and use language can be unique to each person or group, allowing us to express ourselves in countless different ways. So, language is both structured and endlessly flexible, letting us be creative while still following basic rules.
