Questions (1)
•What is human language? Can it be
defined?
In my opinion, human language can be deemed as anything
that allows a means of efficacious communication between two individuals.
This means of communication could be in the form of gestures, verbal
conversation or even facial expressions. Accordingly, I also believe that human
language in itself is an amalgamation of several entwined elements that cannot
be isolated from each other.
•Do we think in language? Why is
that?
Language is a medium that allows us to process our thoughts
and thus I do think that we think in language. In terms of the
specificity of the language that we gauge in to think, from my personal
experience I can say, we often retreat to processing our internal thoughts in
our mother tongues/native languages as this is the language that is intrinsic
to our being.
•Do speakers of different languages
inhabit different worlds?
I do not
think that speakers of different language inhabit different worlds for the sole
reason that despite that fact that we may have different phonetically sound to
convey the meaning of certain things, we do in the entirety seek exposure to
similar facets of the world. Thus, I personally feel like it is more the manner
in which one is brought up or their cultural background that determines their
perception of the world than the language they speak.
•How does human language differs from
animal communication? Do speakers of different languages know
different things?
Animal communication, as per my perception, is based purely
on sounds that capture another animal’s attention. Humans on the other hand
have several elements that elevate the notion of communication and hence a
grand distinction can be drawn between the forms of communication between the
two species. Speaker of different languages often have come words that are
untranslatable. These worlds can potentially indicate that speakers of
different languages may perhaps engage in different facets of the world depending
on the tangible vocabulary developed to express these variations.
•Does our language limit what we can know?
If an individual is only articulate in one language but desires
to gain knowledge that is primarily grounded in another language, a language
barrier may be encountered if the individual does not have parallel vocabulary
to translate the words of the new language into. Hence, viewing it from
this perspective, yes, in some cases an individual's language could potentially
limit what they can know.
•To what degree
might different languages shape in their speakers different concepts of
themselves and the world? What are the implications of such differences for
knowledge?
To reiterate, different languages oft consist of untranslatable words/terminology
that could potentially result in a language barrier between two individuals who
speak a mediating middle language. Nevertheless, the differences in knowledge
as a result of this dividing factor can lead to further complications in communicating
messages but on the other hand can also lead to greater findings due to the
fact that two individuals who have different elements of knowledge on one
subject can unite to arrive at a grand conclusive finding together.
•Does the language
we speak shape our cultural values, or does the influence go the other way, or
both?
As mentioned earlier, I am a strong believer in the fact
that our cultural values are dominant in influencing elements of our
personalities, including that of our language. Thus, the language we speak is
only an extension of our culture and hence is greatly influenced by it. For
example, two people who speak the same language may not perceive the world in
the same way as this disparity is characterized by their cultural background
and upbringing.
•What is the role
of language in sustaining relationships of authority?
Language plays a critical role in sustaining the relationships of
authority as a hierarchy is established whilst using language in different
ways with different people. For instance, in certain languages like Hindi and
Korean, language and conversational vocabulary is segregated by levels of
formalities that pertain to people and the person they are speaking to. Thus,
in language as such, the language itself plays a pivotal role in defining and
sustaining the relationships of authority.
Questions (2)
•To what
extend does language shape our thinking?
I believe that
language does not play a big role in shaping how we think as it is our culture
that essentially is dominant in moulding our though process and ideology.
Language simply mediates our thoughts and allows us to communicate them
effectively. Although, considering an alternative perspective as by which
language allows conversation with those around us and therefore allows us to
consider and absorb new perspectives, the importance of language can be argues
to influence our thinking.
•Do
people think differently in different languages?
I do not think
that speakers of different language inhabit different worlds for the sole
reason that despite that fact that we may have different phonetically sound to
convey the meaning of certain things, we do in the entirety seek exposure to
similar facets of the world. Thus, I personally feel like it is more the manner
in which one is brought up or their cultural background that determines their
perception of the world than the language they speak.
•If you do not have words for certain situation, does it mean
you do not have thoughts for them?
I think that it is possible to conjure
thoughts about something without having the exact words to express the thought.
For instance, if speaking about a certain emotion, it is possible for one to
feel a certain way without having an exact label to identify it by. Thus, these
sentiments/ thoughts that cannot be communicated through words are often
perplexing as there is no way one knows how to communicate the exact situation
due to the absence of corresponding relevant words
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