What is language
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Language can take many forms of communication, both verbal and non-verbal. It allows people to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas across cultures and communities, though some phrases may only be appropriate or "correct" within certain contexts. While speech is one way to communicate verbally, language also includes sign language, body language, and other physical signals of emotion. Even without speech, people can communicate through alternate means, as demonstrated by Jean-Dominique Bauby who wrote a entire memoir by blinking his eye. Language is versatile and limitless in how it allows humans to connect with one another.
What is language
- 1. Language is a very versatile means of communicating thoughts, feelings, and ideas from one person to another. Language can vary by community or regional area. One way of speaking can be correct in one culture, but not correct in another. For example, “yall’” is used in a multitude of southern states, however it is not used by most northern people and can be seen as incorrect. It is still valid, just perhaps not grammatically correct. Northern people use the phrase “you guys” which means the same things as “yall”. Both are valid in their respective communities, though some people may or may not agree. Something seen as offensive in one culture can be held sacred in another. Language is just so versatile and limitless. Language is not necessarily verbal. Communication can be achieved by means of body language or sign language. Really any physical signs of emotion such as a sigh or smiling can be perceived as language. As we discussed in class, even a child shaking his or her rear communicates something, although it seems unclear as to what the child was trying to communicate. Any form of communication should be considered valid. For example, Jean- Dominique Bauby was a French magazine editor who had something called lock-in syndrome as the result of a stroke. He completely paralyzed except for his left eyelid. His intellectual abilities were still intact, he just could not verbally communicate his feelings, needs, or wants. With his left eyelid, he was able to communicate however. He had an assistant who would read through the French alphabet and when she reached the right letter, he would blink. He was able to write a memoir this way, just with his left eyelid. This is incredible! Unfortunately, Mr. Bauby never recovered and died from illness complications before he was able to complete his memoir. The fact that he was able to create a memoir by blinking his left eyelid is mind blowing. Though he could not vocalize, he still was able to touch many people through his now published memoir. There are many people out there who use alternate forms of communication. One of the most
- 2. common forms is sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing. All of these forms of communicating, whether it be body language, sign language, or a simple smile could be seen as a means to communicate. Speech is not the same as language but they are very closely intertwined with one another. Speech is basically the means to communicate. Not all people can speak however, but they can communicate with some sort of language whether it be sign language, or eye blinking. Speech is the means to vocally communicate, while language is what we understand in communicating which may or may not be vocally expressed. Without speech systems, one could not vocally express what one is trying to say. Speech is merely a starting point in vocal language formation. Language can be achieved without ever even opening ones mouth. So there is no need for vocalization, unless you try to communicate by means of speaking. Speech occurs if all articulators are working properly together and the timing of the articulators is right. For communication that is non-verbal to occur, non-of the speech articulators have to be functioning. One must just be able to use body language or some alternate form of communication to communicate thoughts, feelings, and needs to another. Speech is just as important as language and vice versa. Correct speech however, cannot be accomplished if the articulators are not functioning properly. One could stutter and not be able to be understood, but could use signals to communicate what he or she feels, wants, or needs. Though a person’s speech systems may not be working properly, any form of alternate communication is valid. Language can be expressed with vocalization as well as body language simultaneously. This could provide hints to a speech pathologist, such in a case where a patient has lost the ability to speak but still uses body language and perhaps “talks with their hands”. A speech pathologist could compare their body
- 3. language when they were able to speak as opposed to when they lost their speech to understand the individual’s needs.
- 4. What is Language? Courtney Leehy SPLP 1052 August 26, 2014