If language can refer to just about everything from English to traffic signals, then we're not going to be able to find interesting generalizations or do good science about it.

如果语言能够表示一切,从英语到交通信号,那我们就无法得出各种有趣的概论,或是无法对语言进行科学的研究

耶鲁公开课 - 心理学导论课程节选