The power of language Essay Example for Free

The power of languold age EssayAlthough Susanne Langer did a news report on humans and animals to show sign of the zodiacs vs. symbols in understanding language, Helen Keller and Malcolm X took different paths on discovering the power of language. Langer brings up how there is a difference between symbols and signs, which most people consider them one in the same. For Keller she was indifferent(p) and dodge from the age of 19 months, where she had difficulty learning how to fade and understand language. In Malcolm Xs case, he was a street hustler who didnt germinate proper education and was frustrated when he couldnt get his point across through his letters he wrote. In Language and thought it was said, A sign is anything that announces the existence or the imminence of some event, the presence of a thing or a person, or a change in the responsibility of affairs (Langer, Pg. 28). Where both humans and animals use signs all the time. For both of us sounds, smells, and motion s could be signs of food, danger, the presence of new(prenominal)s around us, or of a storm approaching. For animals they use signs for defense, to yell out for others, signs of feelings or intentions to be reckoned with or just to let them in.Humans use signs trend more than animals in their everyday life. We answer calls, read other peoples expressions, watch the sky or animals for coming storms, cross streets when theres a walk man, or wait when it says, stop at red lights and go at green. In every case a sign is closely bound up with something to be noted or expected in reckon (Langer, Pg. 28). A symbol differs from a sign in that it does not announce the presence of the object, the being, condition, or whatnot, which is its meaning, but merely brings this thing to mind. (Langer, Pg. 28). The difference between sign and symbol is that a sign generates us to think or act in the face of the thing signified, and a symbol is peoples concept of the thing symbolized. There are ma ny things that are considered symbols, including quarrel, pictures and memories. For example a heart is a symbol of love and a picture of a smiley face is a symbol of happiness. There are symbols everywhere with great significance or little value. But, according to Langer The essence of language is symbolic, not signific. (Langer, Pg. 31) Since Helen Keller was deaf and blind from a very young age, she didnt know how to communicate her wants, needs and connect with the people around her. So finally at the age of seven her parents reached out to a teacher familiar with teaching the blind and deaf. Her teachers name was Miss Sullivan who taught her how to communicate by writing the words in Helens spend and letting her feel or touch the object to grasp exactly what it was. It started of with small inanimate objects like doll, hat and cup.Each time they would progress to more difficult words like sit, stand, walk and water. They went from words to sentences to trying to figure out ho w to explain the word love. Once she understood miss Sullivans commentary of love, Keller felt that there were invisible lines stretched between her spirit and the spirits of others (Keller Pg. 68) She came to the realization that the deaf and blind have a more difficult time getting the amenities of conversation, which she accepts and understands.Malcolm X grew up in the hustler kind of environment, where he never had a good education and didnt have to really communicate properly. Soon after Malcolm got arrested for burglary and was in jail, he became obsessed with the written word and books. He would send letters to people he had known in the hustling world, the mayor of Boston, the Governor of Massachusetts and harry S. Truman. Not one of them would write back, which made Malcolm more and more frustrated.He started off trying to read books to gain association but it was useless because Malcolm didnt understand most of the words in the books. So he decided the best thing was f or him to read a dictionary, to study and learn more adequate words to add to his vocabulary. It started by copying and handwriting every word into his tablet, with every punctuation mark. After he wrote the words he would read them over and over, aloud and wake up thinking about those words. This continued until Malcolm copied the whole dictionary and knew almost every word he could.When he was done he picked up a book and could now understand what it was about. Malcolm said I never had been so truly free in my life (Malcolm Pg. 64). From signs and symbols having different meanings in life to finding enlightenment through a dictionary. All three of these authors have come a long way on their paths of discovering and understanding the power of language and communication. With curiosity, research, self-determination, persistence and keeping an open mind, the world of language can be explored to great measures into understanding its meaning and value.