So... language. In all of the pieces that we read this past week in class have focused on how language sets people apart from each other in a negative way. The first quote highlights this claim. It implies that if you don't speak another language, the one you speak now is useless because you won't fit in and will not be able to communicate. In the video, however, Hank Green talks about how people and animals learn to communicate through actions and sylabols when they are young. And, not only do they learn it, it comes naturally to them, kind of like common sense. If babies and animals can do it, why can't everyone. I mean, "everyone smiles in the same language", so why can't everyone communicate in the same language. On the other hand, I can see how some people could simply think, if I don't speak japanese, then how am I supposed to communicate??? Well, lets break it down. When you are walking in the hallway at school, you wave hello to someone. You just communicate without saying a word. Now, was that so hard??? We have so many different gestures for so many different things. You can shrug if you don't know and answer, you can raise your hand if you do, you can give a thumbs up if something is good, or a thumbs down if something is bad. You communicate so many times throughout the day that you probably don't even think about. So why is language a barrier? Why does it hold people back and seperate them from eachother? Why is, "a language we don't know a fortress sealed"? I hope that this blog made you really think about the real meaning of language and how easy it is to communicate without actually speaking. If you feel so moved, please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought about this topic, I would love to hear!!!
~Samantha Tousignant :)
I think that the usage of language seemed to be limited to just verbal responses. We seem to be restricted to just verbal responses, but when in reality our facial expressions and body languages convey the most. -sujaya
ReplyDeleteI like how you addressed how body movement can be a language in itself and I actually viewed the first picture differently from you. I viewed not as language can hold people back from forming connections with different speakers, but how by through languages we learn about different cultures.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you wrote about this makes me so so happy. A different language is not a barrier, but instead it is a door that opens to many many opportunities. The more languages you speak, the more intelligent you become and the more you can communicate with people.But I also agree with your statement saying words don't have to be spoken in order to communicate. Sometimes a hand gesture is the only thing that is needed.
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