Chapter 5: Appreciating The Nature Of Language

Language has been an integral part of human existence since the dawn of time. Our innate ability to communicate has guided the progress of civilization since its modest beginnings and facilitates our understanding of what it means to be human. The only practical way to thoroughly express one’s identity is through language, whether it be verbal speech or written text. It is only through this medium that we are able to fulfill our roles as a social people, who use discourse to cultivate relationships both on a personal and communal level. Language defines the human notion of self by revealing culture and beliefs, making individuality context-specific, and providing identity markers.

In the excerpt from Language in Thought and Action, S.I. Hayakawa claims that the most interesting and least understood application of words is when they are used in an attempt to influence the future. He explains that facts, opinions, and commands can all be used as a way of “making things happen by means of words.” I agree with Hayakawa’s statement that this “directive language” is interesting and important because I see how prevalent it is in today’s society. As he said, control of the public’s behavior is the driving force behind countless professions, including preachers, writers, and politicians. These people, whether we realize it or not, are constantly trying to change how we think through what they say. These attempts are important

In the world today, there are more and more multicultural people who can speak different languages; and they need to choose different tongues to correspond to the immediate community they belong. Language makes people remember their own cultures and contribute to their own identity. In “Mother Tongue,” a short story written by Amy Tan; she strongly narrates the stories about her different experiences and life comprehensions based on varying types of English she speaks throughout life. Wandering on two different languages; Amy discovers the importance and power of language: “the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth” (Tan 38). As human beings, language is the tool that contains the mighty powers; it forcefully affects people’s lives, personality, and lifestyles. Moreover, language is the “bridge” of communication between people. However, for Amy, the views on mother’s language are changing from the sense of shame into pride; as she is feeling the effects that two different types of English are giving to her as well as their respective symbols in her mind.

Why is this question ambiguous and why is it interesting to note that this question is ambiguous?

According to Susanne K. Langer in the essay “Language and Thought,” an essential difference between animals and humans is the way humans think in symbols and signs, instead of just solely relying on signs. Langer suggests that thinking in signs, which is something both humans and animals share in common, is a process that leads us to react instinctively to the physical presence of that sign. Signs are very much a direct cause to a particular effect. It seems that to learn a sign you simply must be conditioned to respond certain ways to a specific observation. Symbols, though, are exclusively human devices of language that provoke thoughts about a particular thing. The use of symbols has allowed humans to reach much more complex levels of thought,

Language is the most complex form of communication. Throughout time, language has lost some of its meaning, it is no longer all about the conversation. Language has become such a powerful instrument used for building relationships between people and even places. Angela Carter, explains her ideas on the topic. She recognizes language as something with substance behind it, not just talking for the purpose of vocalizing. The weight you put behind what you say gives it the meaning. Carter proposes that language is the tool that holds all power that gets exerted when speaking. She believes language gives the people everything they need to exist individually and with one another. The history of a language ties in with the culture, the roots of certain words are what make the civilization what it is today. Carter further points out that language influences control and release, the act of domination and liberation. Everything considered, what Carter reveals about language is eye-opening. She invites a new perspective on the idea that language is power. Carter leaves this open to interpretation, but we see how language is powerful enough to emotionally hurt people. Using it as an instrument of culture, we are able to open our eyes on the stagnation of progress in making the society we live in today to be as equal it can be. Carter is clear in helping us recognize language is used to both create and destroy but fails to include the various forms of language besides speaking vocally.

Have you ever experienced what it feels like to be bullied for your differences? I was in the 5th grade when I first encountered what it meant to be ridiculed for the way you speak. There was a time when my classmates made fun of another boy for the way he was speaking English. The boy was very quiet and only spoke to his cousin during class. The only language he was comfortable speaking was Chinese. My classmates at the time were taking turns recreating what they thought his language sounded like. Every so cruelly they mocked him in a way that was extremely racist; they were bullying him. I specifically remember one girl telling him, “Does your language sound like, ching chong, chong?”, she proceeded to laugh while she asked him. I never stuck up for him when I heard this, and I feel ashamed till this day that I didn’t speak up for him. Language shaming can come from anyone, and it takes many forms. In “Coming to Language” by Jimmy Santiago Baca, the passage gives us a personal experience, he has with language shaming from a teacher and how it affected his life and his journey of finding freedom through writing. In addition we see, another example of language shaming in “Living with Dyslexia” by Gareth Cook where he talks about his learning disorder and how it altered his relationship with teachers and his life. There is great similarity between Baca, Cooks and I’s encounter with teachers and language shaming. Since I’ve been in college, I have had three professors tell me

In Martin Heidegger’s “A Dialogue on Language,” in On the Way to Language, an Inquirer and a Japanese man discuss the dangers of examining concepts between languages. They discuss the Japanese term “Iki,” which is impossible to translate into Western languages, much like how aesthetics doesn’t apply to East Asian concepts. But since both Japanese and German originally came from the same source, the Inquirer suggests that one must return to the beginning of language to fully understand the magnitude of concepts only present in one specific language. Laozi, in his Daodejing, believes that the best way to teach is without words, echoing Heidegger’s point about returning to the beginning of language. This is also a concept in Zen Master Dogen’s Moon in a Dewdrop, since nonsense is used as a way in which to achieve enlightenment, much like how the word “Iki” seems to a westerner. Heidegger discusses the danger of different languages and the solution of returning to the beginning in his On the Way to Language; a solution which can be interpreted into Laozi’s Daodejing and Dogen’s Moon in a Dewdrop as examples of the solution.

At first glance, the question about what is the language might be strange, because we have been using language extemporarily, unconsciously for centuries ago. Nevertheless, the language is the essence difference between human beings and animals, due to what language offers to humans. It enables them to have a history and live the present as well as for planning for the future. furthermore, it is our major tool to communicate ,express our thoughts and feelings under different circumstances, and it enables us to exchange knowledge, beliefs, and opinions to accomplish a great civilization. However, ordinary language is the daily usage of language by people, whereas literary language is the language used by writers, poets, and literates. Everyone can understand the ordinary language easily, but it is quite difficult to realize the proper meanings of the literary language. In order to reach to literary meanings, you should take in your consideration the all structures of the literary language. Literary language is a deviant type of language, for how a writer uses various devices of diction in order to make the language vary from the usual use of language.

This paragraph deals mostly with Within or Outside. In it, most of the discussion is used to show that language and culture naturally evolve both with each other and independently of each other. Using a clever segue that I'm sure I'll come up with, it rounds out by suggesting that intentional change would be worth exploring.

In the short narrative, Coming to an Awareness of Language, by Malcolm X, we are told the story of how a young Malcolm X developed from a illiterate street hustler to a self educated man in prison who would later go on to lead the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X recalls his stay in the Norfolk Prison Colony School as never feeling “so truly free in life.” OInTThe reader gets a firsthand account of the story from Malcolm X, which gives the audience a better and more realistic connection to situations in the story.

Language is the art of communication. Through language we communicate emotions, knowledge and ideas with each other. Language can be both verbal or symbolic. Language can have a strong influence on our perceptions and how we view each other. In this essay I’m going to talk about how the way words are communicated can affect their perceived meanings.

What is the meaning of language? How big the role of language in your life? Have you ever realize the impact of language in your life? In my opinion, language is not as simple as people seen in general. Usually the way people see language just as a tool for communicating with others. For me, behind the general usage of language, it also has a big role in our life because a language has the power to stand and show each person’s identity. Inside the Gloria Anzaldua’s essay “How To Tame A Wild Tongue” and Amy Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” claim that language is an identity. Because they show that language which they commonly use to communicate since the day they were born, showing who are they really are. Language as identity is very arguing phrases, it can be approach from a different perspective. This thing is exactly what are both of these essays are trying to do by approaching differently and using a different tone. Their life and experience give an impact to the way they interpret that language is an identity, and it also seen in each of their essays.

This essay analyses the role of the language in colonized land by English empire. More in specific, how the colonial and post-colonial poems dealing with this powerful tool which is ‘language’. I will take in consideration Derek Wolcott. Drawing thought two of his poems, I am going to point out the way he uses ‘language’,

It was April 2010. David Cameron and Gordon Brown were the political frontrunners of Great Britain. However, that realization was irrelevant with what was about to happen. Everyone was watching as the highly-anticipated, first televised debates in the United Kingdom began. The discourse ended after several hours, and a new candidate quickly emerged as the leader. His name was Nick Clegg. He led the Liberal Democrats, the smallest party. One might think about it over and over again and ask, "How did such a thing happen?". The answer, in itself, lies within the influence of the media, the power of language, and how its words are intertwined so masterfully that the effect becomes immeasurable. As Diane Setterfield once noted, “There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. They wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.” The press established a perception for Clegg and made it known not only to all those in attendance, but to everyone who was watching across the nation. Based on his calm, collective demeanor and the way he was in control, Nick looked like the "host." David and Gordon, on the other hand, appeared rattled and uncomfortable. They went from being the top two candidates to “guests,” in a matter of several hours. That just did not seem