ChittyChittyBangBang 1/27

"Without language, thought is a vague, uncharted nebula." (5) --De Saussure

I really enjoyed Tuesday's class discussion. It really gave me a different perspective of perception. Dr. Rog opened up discussion with the question of what came first, ideas or language? The answer seems obvious, ideas. Although whatever thoughts that were had meant nothing until you could communicate them. With no language, would you even be able to have thoughts, would you yourself understand your thoughts without language? I also found it interesting when someone said that it all depends on your religious beliefs. Which led to that "In the beginning was the WORD. And that WORD was GOD."

Language is constantly evolving and it always will be. The ghoti exercise was really interesting. It's crazy to think that we just associate meanings and sounds with prior knowledge and experience. The Exxon excercise proved that theory. A word to us might be something completely different to someone else from a different time period or another culture. Who decides what words means what? Who decided what each letter sounds like and why?

These questions might not have a sensible answer to some but they are what connects us as a society and changes from generation to generation. Coming up with lingo and signs gives us power and the chance to have our own style of communication.