I just listened to a really interesting Radiolab podcast called Words, which explores what it would be like to live without words. It poses questions like, what does it mean to have thoughts if you don't have the word for "thoughts"? Is it possible for people without language to communicate? How does the existence of or the lack of language change ones life?
Additionally, the Radiolab website posted this incredible video. I didn't understand the concept until around 30 seconds into the video. I plan on using it in my English classes this week.
7 comments:
Amy always reads this passage during Maunday Thursday service:
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I always found it facinating that Jesus is referred to as the Word made flesh.
LOVE! and what's up with your spam, chica? got to make plans for the aborted meetup sometime!
Dad: Yes. Very interesting. How do people who don't have language know that God exists, if they don't know what to call him? There are some religions (it's escaping me which one, maybe Islam) where there are some words for God that are so sacred that no one can speak them.
Eileen: Oops. I think I let him through this morning before I had my coffee...according to his profile, he searches lady. Hmm.
Anyway, yes, I thought of you when I saw this. Great, right? And please, let's get together soon. What's your Friday afternoon look like? Or your Sunday? Send me an email or fb message.
I meant to comment earlier... I love the word-thought connection-and do we need words to have thoughts or is there meaning that transcends language.
There aren't that many cases of people with no language at all-even the deaf have sign language-but there have been a few cases, like Genie (fascinating story) found after puberty with no language-she was isolated her whole life and never learned language. They suspect that there were some other developmental issues as well, but, though she learned to communicate basic needs and ideas, she didn't develop a fully functional language. There was also a wolf-boy in France in the late 1800's.
I think people without "language" per se can and do communicate, but they have to have someone to communicate with-
It also reminds me (tangentially)of some reading about pidgen-to-creole in deaf people in El Salvador (I think)-growing up without a communication system like ASL, they created their own sign language, but it was rudimentary at best, like pidgen langauges often are-for basic communication. But then some of the deaf taught others their sign langauge, their deaf children in some cases, and the language that developed was much more systematic and complex.
Sunday more probable than friday afternoon, am on compadre duty with the family of my ahijada, looks like. Will get back to you, lady! :)
Annje: Yes, in the podcast they talk about that case, but it was actually in Nicaragua (or maybe there were two different ones). They also talk about a 29 year old deaf man who had never learned sign language.
Eileen: Ok, sounds good!
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