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September 17, 2005
What is Language?
Language is classified as a form of communication that occurs among different cultures throughout the human race, and different species among animals. Language is composed of the knowledge of linguistics, the knowledge of sounds, and also the knowledge of words. All of these components are crucial to the understanding of language and its innerworkings. Without the capacity to produce these qualities, language would be difficult to comprehend. Languages are very creative and unique in their structure, but they are also very complex. The complexity of language is absorbed by young children who are later able to understand its rules.
The complexity of language, however, cannot be understood by animals. Even though there are some animals like parrots that are able to repeat human words in different languages, or dogs who are able to respond to commands in different languages, that does not mean that they are able to comprehend the grammatical rules of human language. They are able to absorb words and produce responses as a result, but humans should not consider that to mean that animals can understand human language.
Learning New Words vs. Learning New Sentences
The sentences "I learned a new word today" and "I learned a new sentence today" are not equally probable. This is because it is more difficult to learn a new sentence than a new word. You can learn a new word everyday, because they are constantly being made up and different people use different words to express emotion, or to describe something.
There are certain environments where certain words should be used. For example, when I am with my friends and I am in a more relaxed environment, I may use words such as "like" when I am explaining something or "whoa" when something seems strange or is completely out of proportion.
When I first came to Boston, I had never heard of the word "wicked" or thought that anyone use the word "sketchy". Even though I know what these words are meant to describe. I don't use them myself and consider them to be foreign, just as if someone was learning the slang of a foreign language. This has to do with regional location, but on a broader range new words can be learned constantly through the media.
Learning a new sentence is more difficult than words, because I do not spend time memorizing numerous sentences in books that I read or in conversations with other people. The only opportunity that I have had to memorize sentences has been when I have wanted to memorize quotes that were significant from a book. Also I find myself recalling phrases from people who have told me empowering things and its just stayed with me forever.
-Yasmin
Posted by lcisperez at September 17, 2005 07:13 PM
Comments
Yasmin,
You do use Whoa a great deal! Haha! I enjoy it though. It's so intriguing how we use different words in different settings. Sometimes our entire tone and mood change as well. Great entry!
Posted by: Christina at September 17, 2005 09:26 PM
Yasmin,
I like how you implemented your own experiences to the assignment. I was talking to my friend who goes to school in Virginia yesterday and he noted how I called the train/metro the "T" and how I kept saying "the Fens." It's interesting how word usage has to do with regional location. Even sign language has some dialects. For example, there's about 4 or 5 different ways to sign "birthday."
Lauren
Posted by: Lauren Searls at September 19, 2005 10:29 PM
Being from Maine, the words 'wicked' and 'sketchy' have existed in my vocabulary for quite some time (though just to note, 'wicked' I believe is more indegenous to Maine than 'sketchy') and I thought it was amusing you had never heard them before. I agree with your stance upon learning new sentences for the only times I have "learned a new sentence" in the English language is to memorize a quote or passage from a book.
And to comment upon Lauren's comment...that is very interesting/cool to read there are sign language dialects as well!
Posted by: Freya at September 19, 2005 11:32 PM