Graphic by Lucy Chen
What constitutes a language?
Is it the characters, or the way they sprawl across a page, forming words, sentences, and paragraphs? Is it the syllables, the way they roll off one’s tongue, or the rhythm and the enunciation?
Language is the basis of communication, and communication is a critical part of what makes us human. While animals also know how to collaborate— how to work together to fend off predators, hunt down prey, and reproduce— what sets us apart is our ability to express a wide range of ideas far beyond those with the sole purpose of survival. The ability to communicate is what gave us the evolutionary edge against the myriad of other species, and it’s what has continued to reinforce our dominance in the modern age.
Yet, such a powerful tool also went through its process of refinement: from the earliest form of written language in Sumeria to the 7,000+ languages in the world today (Gelb; “Over 7000 Languages”). How did the 5000 years in between give rise to such drastic growth? It should be noted that the development of language is highly correlated with the intellectual breakthroughs of humanity. The first attempts at philosophy, basic scientific observations, as well as the natural progression of arts and music, among many other factors, led to the gradual sophistication of our ideals and how we were able to express them. Previously, the mental and emotional state of humans remained largely indescribable. While people were able to experience different feelings, it was hard to accurately associate them with words or phrases. But nowadays, thanks to these aforementioned developments, we’re able to attribute a rush of dopamine to pleasure, and the lack thereof to sadness.
Aside from the cognitive aspects, the interconnectedness of the world also contributed to the evolution of language. The earliest migrations started this trend with humans moving out from Africa towards the rest of the world. As transportation grew more advanced, it enabled the integration of various cultures that would otherwise have been left in isolation, through actions such as invasion or colonization. This mixture and spread of various cultures are what led some languages to become more influential than others. Latin branched out, forming the basis of Western languages, with Chinese having the same influence in the East. Language as we know it was born.
Reasons to learn about one’s native language are obvious, as it’s necessary for clear communication and intellectual stimulation. What’s less apparent to most is that learning another foreign language may be just as important.
This is where the concept of culture comes in. A native language reflects the aspects of society that a nation considers important. For example, the concept of “xiao” in China stems from the Confucian philosophy that had heavily influenced dynastic China since the Zhou Dynasty 3000 years ago. “Xiao” refers to the way younger generations are expected to respect and take care of their elders as repayment for raising them. However, if we look at English, there simply isn’t a word to describe this sort of behavior. Wikipedia will show “filial piety” even though it has meanings that differ from the original intent of the word. This is but one of the myriad correlations between culture and language.
Thus, learning a foreign language is learning to become a globally conscious citizen. Beyond grammar and vocabulary, the underlying purpose of studying a foreign language lies in cultural exploration: to learn about another nation’s ideals, beliefs, and social hierarchy. Combining these discoveries with prior knowledge of our own culture will undoubtedly help us develop not only a more holistic picture of the world, but also become more aware of the intricacies and nuances within society.
Bibliography: Gelb, Ignace J. “Sumerian Language.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sumerian-language. “Over 7000 Languages Are Spoken in the World Today, but Not Many Are Represented Online.” Over 7000 Languages Are Spoken in the World Today, but Not Many Are Represented Online - Consumers International, https://www.consumersinternational.org/news-resources/ blog/posts/over-7000-languages-are-spoken-in-the-world-today-but-not-many-are- represented-online/ #:~:text=Over%207000%20languages%20are%20spoken%20across%20the%20world%20t oday.,cultures%20it%20is%20spoken%20in.
Credits:
Written by: Alex Wang
Edited by: XinRu Chew
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