Importance Of Language
Essay by 24 • April 14, 2011 • 1,224 Words (5 Pages) • 2,839 Views
Language is defined as any body which can be written, spoken shown or otherwise communicated between people. Thus it is obvious that it is significant in all areas of knowledge, as well as balanced. Making it absolutely necessary in learning. I believe language is the most important out of the four ways of knowing due to its influence on the areas of knowledge. It is also significant in each area because it plays a large role for the basic awareness of each area. The austrian-british philosopher Ludvig Wittgenstein even says that "the limits of language are the limits of knowledge". According to Wittgenstein, "What can be thought clearly," he says "can also be said clearly." Language is the greatest factor on which most of the human activities depend. This can explain how significant language's role is, although it is different, yet equally important in each area. Without any form of language, any cooperation and communication would be almost, if not totally impossible. Since equality cannot be measured in this case, I will explain my thesis in the following manner: I will clarify the importance of language by explaining its role in each category. As well as explaining how the other ways of knowing are not as significant in the areas of knowledge but it is included as my counter claim.
The issues concerning language and knowledge call for conscious scrutiny in order to recognize its influence on thought and behavior. In the Arts, for instance, language is completely neccessary to explain the meaning of art to an individual. Essentially, art is all language, just like every other form of knowledge. Art is not possible without some form of symbolism. For example, dance is a great performing art. Body language is a notable form of communication. This means, it is not directly said or even said at all. It is all interpreted from the perspective of the audience. Another example of art would be paintings and photography, also known as symbols that are portrayed for people to appreciate and translate. Symbolism is a form of language because they represent something to each individual. The final example of language in art is Ceramics. The different colors used in a piece of pottery can create emotions in us that are defined by language. The pictures, ceramics can create, as well as the forms, communicate meaning to the viewer. As explained, language's importance in the Arts is represented in each form of art.
Language is also a major factor when one studies History. For instance, history is learned solely through language. Through pictures and written documents, historians are able to understand and teach what they have interpreted from the forms of language presented to them. Even music that came out in the early 1900's is interpreted by its meaning and by what it communicates and represents of the past. Communication is being brought through the document to the present. Learning is occurring when historians study the past. History could not be possible without language.
Mathematics is another area of knowledge where language's importance is shown. Mathematics is made up of symbols and language. Mathematics is full of symbols that are combined in some form or another by another symbol to communicate a result or meaning to the mathematician. For example, our math teachers are always saying that what we learn in their class is going be later used in life, right? Well in most cases of basic math, this is true. For instance, take 2+2=4, the numbers can represent pieces of string being added together. Adding together is a symbol itself with significance. We communicate with this symbol with its meaning to add. The addition sign means to put together ideas or objects. For instance, in 2+2=4 could represent two blue balls plus two red balls equal four balls. And even if we do not use it later on in life, each symbol used in math represents something, and thus communicates something.
Science also uses a lot of language. Although not as obvious, science is also all about language. Any subject, including science, could not be possible or learned without language. First of all, scientists would not have been able to teach other scientists or students without the use of some communication, hence language. Research requires history that as I have already shown is based
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