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The importance of the evolution of the English language
The evolution of language
The evolution of language
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As William Shakespeare writes, “All that glitters is not gold” (Shakespeare II.VII.65). This was one of the many phrases the Prince of Morocco, one of Portia’s suitors, uttered as he was choosing from the caskets her late father had made in The Merchant of Venice. Surely, the Prince had to choose from three caskets: one which was silver, the other gold, and the final lead. Being the knowledgeable suitor, the Prince of Morocco quickly eliminates the gold casket, claiming that not all things that are shiny, extravagant, and attractive are valuable. From this, it can also be understood that superficial attractiveness does not always mean flawless. This concept of artificial beauty corresponds directly to language. As the language develops, it happens so that along with it it picks up both beneficial pleasures and hidden dangers. This essay will provide the analysis of how the language, being such a significant ingredient within our daily lives, development is leading to both positive and negative social impacts. One real possibility that language allows is that it connects us with one another, while one pitfall is the loss of value and changing of true meanings of words over time.
Playing a universal role, language is able to facilitate communication between people of different backgrounds and allows them to be able to feel/understand one another even with different connotations. Being expertises of language, both Thomas Nagel and Leslie Savan believe that language has an element of connection within it that allows for different people to relate/connect with one another regardless of their primary connotations due to their previous experiences. To start off, Thomas Nagel was an American philosopher. His main interests consisted of t...
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...reference people that have gone above and beyond just going to war. Words are losing their true definitions/meanings within language. Both the terms warrior and love (being only 2 out of many) which once meant so much and held strong significance are just being used in language without a purpose.
Language plays a major role in our lives today. It allows us not to just communicate with one another, but it allows us to play around with it, mend it, and potentially manipulate not only it, but one another. It has become simple for us to discuss taboo topics without feeling uncomfortable, connect with one another with pop language,make bad news sound somewhat beneficial and express our emotions/feelings clearly and concisely; however, it has also lead to mistranslations/miscommunications based on connotations, concealed truths, and loss of true significance and meaning.
As a whole, the author likens the concept and values of the human society itself to the English language - To Inada, English is undoubtedly viewed as an overrated asset.
Throughout the span of the past few weeks I have traversed the globe, visiting several countries and regions, only to realize that although new methods develop, language as a way of expressing ones self has remained the most effective. Despite this fact, language still has its pitfalls. Neil Postman, in his essay “Defending Against the Indefensible,'; outlines seven concepts that can be used to aid a student in better understanding the language as a means of communication. He describes how modern teaching methods leave a student vulnerable to the “prejudices of their elders';, further stating that a good teacher must always be skeptical. He urges teachers of all subjects to break free from traditional teachings as well as “linguistical tyranny';
Language is more than words and the ability to communicate. It allows the world to express thoughts and ideas, but along with that comes influence and authority—matter that run society. Language impacts society in various ways, both bad and good. Everyday life, even texts and films, portray the effect of language. Whale Rider, “The Myth of the Latin Woman”, and The Crucible demonstrate that language is power.
Language always conveys a message. Language can convey a message that is full of manipulation. In Robin Lakoff’s essay, “Everybody’s a Politician”, she discusses how manipulation is used in day to day conversations, even if one is not intentionally trying to manipulate. Language can be used to dominate others. In the essay, “the Language of Oppression” by Haig A. Bosmajian, he explains the power of using names to define others. Language can change the way a person thinks. In the same essay, “the Language of Oppression” by Haig A. Bosmajian, he also discusses the way someone thinks can be changed by language. Lastly, language has the power to degrade an individual. In another essay, by Robin Lakoff, “You Are What You Say”, she explains how
John Leo is the author of Stop Murdering the Language! In this article, Leo explains how society is using language manipulation in everyday
As children we are taught the gift of language through mimicking and training. We are introduced to a bevy of words and sounds and their meanings. We learn tone and pitch and which words to use to emphasize a particular point(s) that we are trying to make. What we aren’t taught however is that the language that we may learn and speak at home may not necessarily be the language that is widely accepted in the outside world (i.e. school, work, interviews, public functions). Unfortunately our linguistics skill or lack thereof do define us as people and give unwilling clues to our level of intelligence and whether or not we are reliable sources of information (depending...
Miscommunication is a struggle that lives within the world everyday. Being able to understand what another person is trying to convey is an essential part of the way humans interact with one another. When a message is not translated correctly from person to person conflict arises and heated battles rage within a relationship; whether it is a mother and daughter, or two quarreling lovers, or strangers upon the street. All humans are created differently, with diverse upbringings, perspectives, and mindsets. Particular forms of communications may mean different things to various people. When talking about the concept of miscommunications, one must also address the concept of communication itself.
Language has the power to influence and reshape our thoughts and actions. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, there is a society which controls the language of everyone in it. Under the World Council, everyone is to follow the many rules put in place and no one even tries to break them. There is no “I” in their language, there is only “we”. With the power to influence and reshape people, language has a big impact on our thoughts and actions.
The high development of languages around the world is arguably humanity’s most remarkable feat. Without it, we would be not much better off than monkeys or gorillas. Whether seeking to persuade, to inform, to express emotions, to question, to transmit ideas, or even to deliver masterpieces in verse or prosaic, people use language in order to communicate effectively in ways that are simply too arduous to quantify. Language, furthermore, is also not limited to just writing or word of mouth, for it also is used in other fashions, such as codes. Smoke signals, body language, computer programs, as well as Morse and flag are just some examples. Since a person’s language, is essentially inherited, based on their birthplace, due to society’s standards, it is, at times, taken for
In the graphic feature, “What is Language?” it says, “Language is more than talking and hearing. It is what we share when we do things together. It is how we create common ground. It is how we collect shared meanings.” For Instance, language is how we share ideas and act upon them. Just think that you see a cat in a tree and it can’t get down. Then, you go and tell a figure in charge and everyone helps get the cat down. When there is trouble or some important information that you need to tell someone you need to use all four steps of language to get what is needed to be
Language is a very powerful tool. It is a means of basic communication, and has been around for centuries. Just like any other tool, language can be powerful in a positive or negative way, and can either work to one's advantage or can result in negative effects. Certain words can touch a certain chord inside someone, so they can be easily influenced by the language. A good example of this is George Orwell's Animal Farm, a fable in which a multitude of gullible animals are exploited by a group of power mongering pigs. Words can appeal to a persons basic needs and desires and conjure up hope or even fear in his or her mind. These emotions can be manipulated by others to their own advantage, and clever use of language can be used to cheat, deceive, spread rumors. In Animal Farm, Orwell shows how the pig's use of influential language manipulates and enslaves the animals.
... a windowless room, yet upon entering, one would say nearly the same thing. Understanding the context of a word is nearly as important as an understanding of the word itself, as the situation controls to a degree how the word will be used. All of these problems are contained within language. Yet, language is our most important tool in communication and thus must be employed. If it were not, communication would be hindered, or even blocked, to a far greater degree than it is due to the problems presented. It should be the goal of everyone to, when possible, avoid these problems. The result would be language which is far more clear, precise, and less misleading, or bewitching. Language free of most problems would make it an even greater tool, effectively improving the communication between persons and developing better understanding and knowledge through this communication.
“Constantly ‘the average American’ is surrounded by premeditated language, in newspapers and magazines, on signs and billboards, on TV and radio” (Berry). Words are shortened in texts to “save time” and tweets are limited to a 140 characters. Other social media, like Snapchat, not only limits the amount of characters but also encourages the use of images instead of words. Images have replaced conversation; moreover, all of these limitations will cause people to limit their thoughts. Communication is diminishing in a world slowly throwing away the importance of words. Berry notices this when he says, “We must know a better language. We must speak, and teach our children to speak, a language precise and articulate and lively enough to tell the truth about the world as we know it” (Berry). The world needs to start a change now and cast off the condensing of language so that they may teach their children to love words. When someone loves language it helps them cultivate an appreciation for literacy. With this love, people can start to bring back the language and raise up a nation of critical
Language. It is a sign of who we are and where we come from. As language defines us, so does it unite us, but it can also impose barriers that drive us apart. As our society aggressively pursues globalization, individuals who maintain cultural sensitivity and strive for effective communication despite language barriers will be an increasingly important commodity; individuals who can also pass the gift of adept communication to others will be invaluable. On the eve of my college graduation, the culmination of four years ' immersion in language and communication and the beginning of a lifetime of educating others in these disciplines, I feel increasingly the weight of
Language has been used as a means of communication among society members as time began. Each and every community has its own unique language, which is used to convey a certain message from the sender to the recipient. For a language to be appreciated as a means of communication among society members, it should be clear, simple to use and understandable among the users. There are approximately six thousand different languages, which are used in the whole world. Such languages are unique and distinct from each. Yagmur (2009) supports that; a language acts as a reflection or like a mirror of the society from which it originates. For instance, a language may portray the culture and origin of a certain community.