The importance of language is immense, as it is believed that the more languages that one knows, the more s/he is capable of. This capability is largely associated with the ability to understand things that others ordinarily wouldn’t. Quite naturally speaking, it is evident that individuals who are limited as far as spoken languages are concerned tend to be limited in their perceptions. This particularly refers to individuals who travel to regions where there would not be able to understand a native language.
Aside from this logical approach, there is also
another one that defines one’s critical
perspectives. It is asserted that critical thinking
or the ability to critically think is directly
associated with the ability to converse. It is
said that human beings think in terms of language.
Without language on one’s side, one cannot
think or even give meaning to things around him
or her. The more that one knows in a particular
language, the more s/he can critique. In order
to understand this, it is worth asserting that
an individual with a vocabulary ten times more
than another, would be able to discuss and critique
more. So, if one has more languages on his or
her side, and also has an abundant vocabulary,
critical thinking is enhanced.
Though some people would not agree that critical thinking is directly related to knowledge of language, it must be asserted that it is so. In order to prove this, one does not have to go too far. If one (individual of PhD level) considers discussing and critiquing a subject with a high school student, the exercise would not be as fruitful as it would if the same individual were to discuss the same subject with someone of similar caliber. The result is obvious; the high school students among other reasons, will not be able to participate enough because of his lack of vocabulary. It is evident that the high school student is limited in expression as well as thought because s/he would not have the same vocabulary that a graduate would have. If this same high school student were to enhance his vocabulary, s/he would be able to then participate in higher level discussions. This is because he would be greatly aided by his vocabulary. Also, the more languages one learns, the more one is able to communicate and express him or herself. This basically comes down to being educated or not, as it simply refers to the manner in which an educated person may be able to argue over something logically, while an uneducated one may not. It was Aristotle who once said, “Educated men are as such superior to uneducated men as the living are to the dead”. These words are sufficient to say it all, as basically not knowing more languages makes one look duller than those that do.
|