2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or…
References: Metger, M. (1999) Sign Language Interpreting: De-constructing the Myth of Neutrality. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press…
In 2004, human rights were violated in the form of physical, psychological and sexual abuse, including torture, rape and homicide of prisoners in Abu Ghraib. These acts were committed by military police of the United States Army. Did this happen because the soldiers considered the Iraqis as inhuman, and was it caused by having a certain language to refer to the enemies? In war, soldiers find it easier to cope after killing if they know that they have killed the opposing side for the right reasons. For example, when in war, soldiers give names to the enemy to make it easier to kill them. These words are not necessarily meant to harm anyone, but it makes it easier to kill them, and protect the ones back home.…
Language plays an important role in communication by bringing people together and enriching their relationships. Language can also alienate those who do not speak it properly, or at all, from those who do. The essays, Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan, best known for her book, The Joy Luck Club, and Se Habla Espanol, by Tanya Barrientos, delve into the many powers that language holds. These essays reflect how by not speaking a language in proper form and by not speaking a language at all, affects the lives of the subjects of the stories.…
Tabak, J. (2006). Significant gestures: a history of american sign language. New York City: Praeger…
Discovering language Language is an essential part of human existence; we use language to express ourselves by labeling our thoughts with words, and symbols; in addition, language can also be a powerful tool to understand concepts, and ideas. In this essay will talk about the power of language how it breaks social barriers, and how it empowers people. Two influential people in the world relied on language to enlighten themselves with knowledge. Malcolm X the Black Muslim leader discovered how he can turn his life around, by learning language in his own term, second, a seven year old girl name Helen Keller conceived to learn language, despite of her disability. Language is an evolutionary marvel that became an essential tool to human survival. We use it to communicate and express our thoughts. However, it is a privilege to learn a language; like how it is a privilege to read and write, without either one, we struggle to get our ideas across to others. A person that is deprived of a proper education can feel lost, and confused. According to, Eschholz, Paul, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark, Language Awareness. 10th ed. St. Martin: Bedford, 2009. Print. Malcolm X story reveals how he struggled to understand words and complex concept; without having a proper education he felt frustrated, not being able to express what he wanted to convey in letters, drove him to pick up a dictionary to educate himself. This shows the importance of language and its use. Therfore, without language, we strain in conveying our ideas making it hard for others to understand us. Malcolm X was born in a period where racial segregation was in a mist of change. As a child he was intelligent and a bright student, but a comment from one of his teachers about his future to be a lawyer was impossible, because he was black, led to him dropping out of junior high school. As he grew up Malcolm got involved in petty crimes that landed him in jail and one of those crime was a robbery that sentenced him…
A symbol is defined as an object that represents something abstract by association, resemblance, or convention. In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses a vinyl record to represent Holden Caulfield’s belief of childhood innocence.…
Language throughout our culture is extremely powerful. It is used to make connections with other people, it is used in business, and countless other things. Without language there would be no unity or diversity. Both Anzaldúa and Morrison explore the power of language in their own perspectives.…
Writers often use symbols to present a deeper meaning in their writing. A symbol is used to communicate meaning by representing a physical entity, a situation, or an emotion. Using symbols is an effective way to add dynamics to a storyline. It is a way to display a mood or theme without simply stating it. Tennessee Williams uses several symbols in the play, The Glass Menagerie.…
Words are undoubtedly the most influential tool used by mankind. They contain immeasurable significance throughout the world we live in. Our societies are all built upon a common basis which is centered around words. Words make up language which we use to communicate and interact with one another. Language impacts the way people think, act, and perceive things. Consequently, if you are able to control and manipulate language you will have the ability to affect the way people think, act, and perceive things. Thus, the more you are able to control language, the more power you will possess. Since language is made up of words, this concludes that words are indeed, power.…
On a typical day, as an average person--whether going to work, school, or simply to the store--we all run into many different types of signs and symbols. Signs include smells, sounds, or motions which could indicate food, danger, or the existence of others. A symbol is that which makes us merely think of the object mentioned. From the time I got up until the time I got to English class at Casper College, I encountered numerous signs and symbols that I never would have thought twice about.…
This context describes the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs, and values. This seemed like an obvious choice for my project, because of the exploration of an entirely new language and its unique expressiveness. Linguistic research demonstrates that American Sign Language (ASL) is comparable in complexity and expressiveness to spoken language; it’s not English conveyed through signs, but rather a distinct language with its own distinct grammatical structure. Language itself is a form of expression, both shaped by culture and setting as well as the personal connections that are made by its users. Baby Sign, a shoot-off of this language, has very specific uses, and infants and toddlers have unique perceptions of the world that can be accessed through the use of Baby…
People communicate via symbols which include gestures, signs, words or images, that stand for or represent something else. These symbols let people know what others think about them.…
One group received training to encourage verbal language with their infants, the second control group received no training or intervention. During this study, the signs used by families and trainers were based on natural gestures. Some families chose to make up their own signs for certain items that were used on a daily bases around the house. For example, to make the sign for drink, signers make the shape of their hand holding a cup and bring it to their mouth. Now most of the words taught in baby sign language programs have been adapted from that of American Sign Language system. According to the District Manager for Baby Signs, complicated signs were sometimes changed to make it easier for the child to make it meaningful (B. Broughton, personal communication, March 24, 2006). The results from this study led observers to consider that the use of sign language development improves scores on intelligence tests. Acredolo and Goodwyn believe that baby signs stimulate brain development by strengthening connections that make it easier for a baby to communicate and to succeed. They clarify that without the use of the sign, this neurological growth would be delayed several months until the baby could distinguish words. It is important for viewers of these results to keep in mind that other factors may have led to the…
Symbols play a huge part in all cultures around the world. From everything to language, hand gestures and communicating. Different societies could possibly have the same symbols but mean totally different things by them.…