Language is an abstract, complex system of arbitrary rules and symbols, allowing a connection between the object and the word to exist. Language, in the form of words, is not the only way that human beings use to communicate. There are several forms, such as body language, facial expression, sign language, and a lot more which don’t require the use of words, but the existence of a mutual agreement.
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It can be verbal, non-verbal, visual. Language allows us to create, expand and organize our knowledge, as well as giving us the possibility to dream, think, imagine and much more. With language, we can understand the world around us. Language possess a symbolic function, where we encode and then externalize our wishes, fears, hopes and dreams.
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Within the verbal category, we can find the language itself, and many different kinds, such as English, Spanish, Italian, and many more. Within each specific language, there are limitless ways to speak it.
We are given a basis, but we change it, modifying it, creating our own personal language, in ways where certain people will comprehend the knowledge that we are transmitting to them. A person does not possess a “broken” or “incomplete” language, just a diverse way of speaking and understanding it. If the person is able to express and communicate, then the language is working just fine, even if there are some words or phrases missing.
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Furthermore, within different parts of the World, different language are spoken, and we can find diverse authors, philosophers, and many more, writing, and communicating their knowledge throughout their books, novels, plays, etc.
However, the only way in which we can completely “feel” and understand what it is been expressed, is by learning the language which the author originally wrote the book in.
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Being bilingual, and having family members who don’t know English, personally, I find it difficult to translate certain words from one language to another, and the meaning is lost or has changed somewhere along the way. When trying to translate my knowledge, the way they perceive it, is distinct because of the fact that in English, it means something meaningful, but in Spanish, it can be easily dismissed.
A diverse range of words exist, which don’t possess a “complete” translation. An example of this is German. Several words in German can’t be fully translated, and a single word ends up being translated into a whole phrase. “Wanderlust” is the word in German, but when it’s translated into English, it means wanting to leave the comfort of your home, and travel to meeting new people, new places, etc.
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Within the non-verbal language category, we can find facial expression, body language, sign, signals, and many more. Words aren’t used, but there are symbols which allow communication to take place. An example is when a person yawns, it means that he or she feels tired, or when we know the exact meaning of the colors that the traffic light possess, such as yellow is to remain stationary.
We can also express our knowledge through music or art. Emojis are often used to communicate how we are feeling at the moment, however, each emoji possess different meaning of different people, and so, there are various interpretations.
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In addition, language allows me to communicate knowledge. Since others can’t guess or know how I’m feeling, language allows me to express it. It also helps me acquire personal and shared knowledge from the people around me and my environment, by listening or by looking at them. Language also allows me to think of reasons, and being able to express my reasoning.
References – information:
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EF Blog. 2016. 17 German Words with no English translation – EF Blog. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ef.com/blog/language/17-german-words-with-no-english-translation/. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
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prezi.com. 2016. TOK Language by Mariam Awadalla on Prezi. [ONLINE] Available at:https://prezi.com/6vj7w9_6i_cd/tok-language/. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
References – images :
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- Traductores de inglés. 2016. Traductores de inglés — Comunicación y negociación para traductores. [ONLINE] Available at: http://youlovevangogh.tumblr.com/post/127386651733/comunicaci%C3%B3n-y-negociaci%C3%B3n-para-traductores. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[1] GIPHY. 2016. Dog GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY. [ONLINE] Available at: http://giphy.com/gifs/dog-martin-freeman-c0UwTtONE83o4. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[2]Tumblr. 2016. the other language | Tumblr. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.tumblr.com/search/the%20other%20language. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[3]GIPHY. 2016. Book GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY. [ONLINE] Available at: http://giphy.com/gifs/book-riot-stink-oFPiPgqwof4Pe. [Accessed 23 October 2016].No understanding
[4]GIPHY. 2016. What GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY. [ONLINE] Available at: http://giphy.com/gifs/one-direction-1d-zayn-malik-n8b7vkBFVqcgg. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[5] GIPHY. 2016. Singing GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY. [ONLINE] Available at:http://giphy.com/gifs/singing-13zC1ZVHmMmvMk. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[6]GIPHY. 2016. Light GIF – Find & Share on GIPHY. [ONLINE] Available at: http://giphy.com/gifs/light-traffic-when-was-the-first-installed-MBgpcCRYRZrTq. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
[7] Lapidarium. 2016. Sir Martin Rees on our understanding of the… – Lapidarium. [ONLINE] Available at:http://amiquote.tumblr.com/post/14860377142/sir-martin-rees-on-our-understanding-of-the. [Accessed 23 October 2016].
Theory of Knowledge 