Biolinguistics and Human Capacity - Assignment Example

Running Header: Aspect of Life Language and Critical Thinking of the of School) The ability and capacity to formulate, organize and store thought processes is a skill that is inherent in human beings. Man uses his brain almost all the time in whatever he does, no matter how routinely the job may be. Thinking or cognition is a developmental skill that begins in the early stages of life, this enables observation, elicits feeling and experiencing the several theories that governs life. It is such a complex skill that is unique in every person. This can only be related through communication, which is somehow dependent upon language, its method and culture. Another factor that makes thinking unique is the kind of language one possesses. The relationship between language and thinking is that former conveys the intentions of the latter and clarifies the premise it wants to achieve. Language is the tool for expression of thought. This is the central idea whereby this paper is conceived, since we want to establish the role that language play in the process of thinking. My family have been blessed with opportunity and a particular fascination with travelling, my mother works for a magazine company and she writes articles about the places she visits while my father works for an executive corporation that practically has offices in almost all major cities in Asia. We do family trips every summer and this year we visited Shanghai, one of my memorable trips in the Far East. One of the things I immediately notice, the first day we arrived is that the city was "buzzing" with different kinds of noise. Their streets were as busy as the time square in New York, and most of the people drive bicycle to get them to their destination. I had difficulty going around town since most of them only speak their "native tongue" and there were few people who can converse in English. I had to cut my first day short and went back to our hotel to "catch some sleep". The next day was filled will "breathtaking" scenery from ancient China we visited temples and monasteries, and saw few artefacts and went insides old palaces with huge statues of ancient Important Chinese personality. It made me feel like I did "time travel", like I was in the time those dynasties and the emperors. I never thought I could relive and personally witness the evidence of ancient Chinese civilization, that I saw the things that were written only in the academic books I read in class. Now I understand what culture does to a country, I can now relate better to the lessons learn from the mistakes of the past. We returned home with rich memories of ancient China, I immediately framed all the still photos I took and hanged it in one corner of my room to constantly remind me of the knowledge I acquired during this trip. Language no matter how diverse and difficult and in spite of its diversity, play an important role in our critical thinking because it is the key to understanding, according to Philip Atkinson. "It is the expression of thought, an act of translating thoughts into words thereby refining understanding" (Atkinson. 2004). Language enables man to define the process of his thoughts and make sense of it. "Language is the 'software' that allows our brain to think the way it does, without language the cerebral cortex lies largely unused" (Kirby & Goodpaster. 1999). With advance technology and globalisation, language highlights the identification of a major medium of communication that is comprehensible to many, this will define the aims, goals and intention that the thought process wants to attain, it will clarify the subject matter to discuss and set aside the non-issues. Language can also be limiting in the sense that the capacity to ascribe a particular word to a meaning can sometimes be inadequate owing to the inability to completely convey the message it wants to convey (Chomsky. 2004). Language can also empower our thoughts in the sense that enables us to identify the very core of an idea, an idea that prime a cause and therefore advocate what you think is right. With language, you can easily influence other people into believing the same idea and making it into a cause. Like for instance in the case of protest of political protest. Some of these causes begins with a single opinion advanced either by a certain person or by a certain category which in turn be address to a larger group. Through persuasion, you will convince them on the very opinion you believe and then present to them the facts and evidences that enables you to formulate such an opinion. With these, they will in turn formulate their own conclusion and therefore finally decide as to whether agree or not. Regardless of whether you continue the effort on convincing others, there is actually no need to do so, because the number of people that you have convinced will already spread the word and thus create a movement. In persuasion, critical thinking is imperative in the sense that it presents a better understanding of the other person's point of view in order to communicate effectively your own stand. By incorporating the position of the other person and presenting them in a way that highlights the positive aspects of your ideas the persuasive effect of your arguments will be received more effectively. Languages give us access to other "countries of the mind", and help us to look back at our own country and culture from a different and more healthily critical perspective (Footitt. 2001). In conclusion, I believe that language is imperative in the thinking process, because this is the core and essence of the idea. Without language, there is no comprehension and the world will be one disintegrated place full of misunderstanding and misdeed. It is through language that harmony and peace is achieved, and we see this happening all around us. In mediating differences and patching up conflicts. In realigning broken links and failed goals. Language is the key to prosperity. References List Chomsky, N. (17, May 2004). Biolinguistics and Human Capacity. Retrieved 08 May 2006 from Kirby, G. and Goodpaster, J. (1999) Thinking. Saddle River:Prentice Hall Atkinson, P. (2004). Our Civilization. Retrieved 08 May 2006 from Fennimore, T. and Tinzmann, M. (1990) The Critical Thinking Curriculum. Retrieved 08 May 2006 from the NCREL Home Page Footitt, H. (2001). Lost for words in the Guardian. Retrieved 23 Oct. 2001 from Read More