Final Essay

The Power of Language






Language is the most important cultural invention known to man. It is a medium mankind created as a form of communicating to each other and is one factor that distinguishes humans from animals. According to Dictionary.com a language is a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition. It is the ability to shape events in each other’s brain with exquisite precision; it has the power to connect the members of a community into and information-sharing network. (Pinker, 41) But how do we humans acquire such a gift and what more can we do with it? Steven Pinker provides us with a thorough explanation of how one acquires language and Alder and Rodman provide useful information on how we can use and interpret language. This knowledge will help us use the power of language to its fullest potential.


Most of people believe that language can be taught; that children learn to speak by imitating role models. However, contrary to popular belief, Steven Pinker believes that the ability to use a language is not something that we can learn. As we go through our daily lives we do not realize the complexity of the language we speak, therefore it is natural for one to believe that language, in all its complexity, can be taught. One can not learn a language like one learns to how to do math. “[Language] is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develops in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction.”(Pinker, 42) In this way Pinker believes that language is more of an instinct that one gradually acquires. Darwin also suggests that language is an instinct, “… for man has an instinctive tendency to speak, as we see in the babble of our young children.” Babies, before even trying to walk, use the only form of language they know to communicate with their parents; noise whether it be random sounds they make or through crying. This noise later turns into random words and then finally into properly structured sentences. In between this process however a child goes through a phase where his or her sentences are grammatically incorrect. Therefore, further proving that humans do not acquire a language through imitation, instead it is an instinct that is acquired spontaneously.


Language is the basis of human communication through speech, however it can be used to achieve so much more. Alder and Rodman believe that the language we used can shape the attitudes of others; in a good ways and bad. A name is typically associated as a method of identification however names can “shape the way others think of us, the way we view ourselves and the way we act.”(Adler and Rodman, 77) Names that are easier to say tend to be more popular. If a speaker were to sound credible by speaking like a scholar it is natural to believe the speaker and accept the speaker’s thoughts as true. But this is a common misconception people get tricked by; when they assume the credibility of someone based on how they talk. Some salespeople use language to trick people into buying their products. Therefore, it is essential to be able to tell the difference between genuine people and frauds. Sexism and racism are other more extreme examples of how language can be used to shape the attitudes of others. We have seen how sexism and racism can have negative impacts on society. How we use language can influence people both positively and negatively. Although names seem harmless, they do have the potential to cause pain when associated with sexism and racism. Therefore, language is a powerful tool that can be used to shape the attitudes of others.


As well as possessing the ability to shape the attitude of others, language also has the ability reflect the attitudes of the speaker as well. Speakers have the ability to persuade their audience with language as seen in the previous section. But this ability is useless if the speaker has no confidence and power when speaking. A listener will be more inclined to listen to a speaker who does not stutter and does not use slang while talking. Powerful speech isn’t the only way one could judge the attitude of the speaker. “Language can also be a way of building and demonstrating solidarity between others.”(Alder and Rodman, 82) Choosing the right vocabulary, the number and proper placement of pauses and level of politeness are all key factors that should be taken into consideration. A good communicator can adapt his or her speech to better suit the style of others. For example an immigrant will strive hard to master the widespread language of the new country in order to be successful there. A good speaker also knows what the right thing to say is for any given situation. For example, if you got a bad haircut and you asked a random person how it looked. A good speaker would lie and says it looks good. Finally a good communicator can also reveal their attitude by accepting responsibility in messages. For example a less responsible speaker would say “It’s not finished” where a more responsible speaker would say “I didn’t finish it.”(Alder and Rodman, 83) Therefore, a listener will be more inclined to listen to a speaker who is powerful but polite and responsible and knows the right thing to say and at the right time.


Language is a very powerful tool if used properly. By properly understanding how humans acquire language we can use it for the greater good of humanity by investing money into researching how the brain and language are connected. By doing this we will one day be able to help cure diseases that affect ones ability to communicate with speech and language. Also, by understanding how to properly interpret and analyze language we can become better communicators and better listeners. We can learn what to look for in genuine communicators and will be able to analyze the attitude and motifs of a speaker. In addition, we can learn how to properly and more effectively communicate with others by using language to its fullest.