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How they Affect The Way We Understand and Participate in Our World
Introduction
One of the most empowering human acts is that of expression; transforming an inner thought, emotion or idea into a form that others can understand and share. Language in itself is a fascinating concept—that sounds, which become known as words, carry meaning and convey ideas for abstract terms. It is a remarkable thing to be able to take those sounds and arrange them in such a way that they carry forward powerful messages, rich in their texture and potent in their composition. In almost every instance, these sounds, that can also be represented symbolically, i.e., in writing, reflect the way we experience life.
This essay will look into the following issues:
• Languages and our world today
• The Functions of Language
• Evolution of languages
• Preserving Languages and Highlighting Their Importance
• Globalization and Language
• The Role of TakingITGlobal in the International Language Dialogue
• A Conclusion
Languages and our world today
Several societies encourage people to speak more than one language. Often this is because of the way different cultures co-exist or relate to one another. In Africa, where I am from, many people speak several languages and that is not really considered extraordinary. It becomes a way of life to speak more than one language when different ethnic groups live next to each other or form parts of the same society. For people to get by, they need to learn the languages of another. As a result of the multilingual environment, languages allow people to cross bridges and to participate in another cultures experience of the world. In some unfortunate cases, as is clearly demonstrated in civil conflicts such as that which took place in Rwanda and Burundi in the 90s, these differences reinforce negative social situations—civil war, ethnic violence, genocide. Therefore I will state from the very onset that languages are not always a positive thing, but that when abused, can create social challenges. However, this article hopes to focus on the positive element of languages. It will explore the theme of language from different angles and make a case for embracing language as a tool for development, fostering cultural understanding and creating a better world economically, socially and culturally.
Historically, language has been one of the main tools of oppression. The oppressors often devised strategies aimed and stripping a whole people of their language amongst other things. Language represents a means of survival, a cultural reality, and a way of life. It is perhaps just as important as any other asset that people have. Destroying it significantly affects the way that a culture progresses. In some cases, education systems were designed to deliberately teach the colonialist’s language and to reinforce its dominance. Often, traditional languages were associated with shame, inferiority and being uneducated.
The impact of these calculated attempts to break different groups by attacking their culture, specifically, their language, can still be seen years after the oppression and injustices officially end. In many cases, traditional languages are being left behind because of the need to advance economically which often hinges on the ability to speak a dominant global language such as English, Spanish or French. For a lot of people, this has become a necessity to be able to survive in the modern world with its knowledge-based economy. You cannot work in the global economy if you cannot speak a major language. In other cases, people associate progress, development and success in life with being able to master that which is foreign and portrayed as advanced. Oftentimes, this means that people embrace languages other than their own in an attempt to show that they are educated or sophisticated yet at the same time, extending the legacy of and injustice and oppression.
The impact of economics on languages is extremely strong. Indigenous peoples from the Andes, the Native Peoples of North America, the Aboriginal Peoples of New Zealand and Australia, the billions of people from Asia and Africa whose languages are not international are left with little choice but to take on other languages to compete as equals in the global marketplace. There exist very little rewards for learning and mastering their own languages (with musicians being amongst the rare exceptions as music finds many non-verbal ways to overcome barriers.)
As I already mentioned, colonialism, imperialism and others forms of domination and oppression sought to take people apart by denying them the right to speak and develop their own languages, resulting in devastating psychological and social effects. I believe that the thing which one knows most, and knows best is their language. Not only is it what builds societies and allows people to communicate and connect, it is that which also allows introspection, self-evaluation and development. Hence language is also as much a personal thing, as it is societal. It is that which lets you have those very important conversations with yourself. It provides a sense of security, assuredness, and identity. You peacefully dream and think in the language you’re most comfortable with. Therefore losing the ability to do so is no doubt a very damaging loss. This emphasizes two key points:
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Writer Profile
Dumisani
I write because I believe in the power of ideas! Thoughts are what have changed the world... Every revolution, every legislation, every act started off as a thought. All thoughts are inspired by other thoughts expressed in song, essays, research, poetry, spoken word, action...
I write because I love. I hope that my writing inspires and informs you as much as the writings of others has done to me in my life.
~dumisani
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