Blog 21

Language is how we communicate. Language does not have to be vocal, it is any expression that is used to communicate with other people, such as sign language or different symbols. Without language people would not be able to understand each other and the world around them. Everything has a name to it and without a name, it is almost like its significance is nonexistent because there is not a name or context to put meaning to it. It would be a pretty sad existence if a person did not have a way to communicate with others. I see language as a good thing because it allows us a way of communication and the growth of knowledge, but without it, where would we be? I think language can be dangerous due to how much we rely on them. What makes a person who they are and what they know is dependent on language and it is scary to think what life would be without it. I feel like I hadn’t really thought a whole lot about language when I was younger. Most children don’t really think too much about language when they are really growing up. I think part of this is because before a certain age a child’s brain is only so developed. Children only begin to start communicating when they around the age of two. Though children do begin to learn language from this age on, their brain isn’t developed enough to form  memories, let alone have a more complex understanding of language. Children usually only begin to remember memories around the age of four or five, a more complex understanding of language develops around the age of six. Language is so important to me as a person. Language makes me who I am as a person, what I know, and how I express myself to others. I wouldn’t be who I am today without language that I use everyday. Even the language that a person speaks can shape who a person is. People who speak two or more languages were asked if there sense of self and self identity changed depending on what language they were speaking. It was reported that people felt different and act differently depending on which language they were speaking. Language is also how knowledge is passed and acquired. Throughout all of my college classes language is used to teach and pass on knowledge. This will affect me in the future because how I do in college will affect the job that I get in the future and what degree of success I reach will depend on what I have learned. Also the language that I use will reflect my sense of maturity, which will also affect my ability to get a job. Language is such an important part of our everyday life. It is often one of those things that people, including myself, takes advantage of. It really is something that should be cherished and valued because life would be much different if we did not have language.