why is language arbitrary

Language is considered arbitrary because there is no inherent or natural connection between the form of a word (its sound or written symbol) and its meaning. The relationship between a "signifier" (a word or sound) and the "signified" (the concept or object it represents) is based on social convention and agreement within a language community rather than on logic or necessity. Different languages use completely different sounds or words to refer to the same object or concept, such as English "book," Spanish "libro," or German "Buch," showing that these connections are arbitrary and culturally agreed upon. This arbitrariness allows language to be flexible and open to change, enabling it to represent abstract ideas and adapt to different cultural contexts. Because the connection between word and meaning is arbitrary, languages evolve with usage and social convention rather than fixed natural laws. This principle was famously highlighted by Ferdinand de Saussure, who distinguished between the "signifier" and the "signified," emphasizing that the link between them is not logically imposed but socially created. In summary, language is arbitrary because it relies on socially agreed-upon symbols without natural ties to meanings, which differentiates human language from direct codes or non-arbitrary signs. This arbitrariness also highlights the equality of all languages linguistically, even though social prestige may vary among them.