Noah & Language
Noah describes languages in South Africa as a hierarchy, where “English comprehension is
equated with intelligence” (54). He explains: “I learned to use language like my mother did . . .
It became a tool that served me my whole life” (55). He even asserts that “language, even
more than color, defines who you are to people” (56). Do you agree with Noah’s assessment
of the importance of language? What do his claims suggest about the power of language and
the values placed on certain languages over others? What personal insights can you add to solidify your
assertions?
I agree with Noah's claim that language is important and can help define a person. Many see the ability to speak a language proficiently, or speak multiple languages, as a sign of high intelligence and education. Oftentimes, the use of certain language can determine the outcome of a situation. It could be the difference between getting hired for a new job and being denied, or it can even help persuade others. Language plays a powerful role in everyone's daily lives, as Noah's claims suggest. The English language plays an especially important part throughout the world everyday because it is known as most prominent. People that can speak fluent English are often seen as more intelligent and are held to higher standards; they also enjoy more opportunities like being able to work anywhere in the world due to their knowledge of the English language. Moreover, people that lack the ability to speak English are often viewed as less educated and less intelligent to most. Although I do not agree that if someone cannot speak English it is due to the fact that they are not as intelligent, that is the common conception. I believe that if someone is foreign and they have trouble speaking English because it is not their first language, that is understandable; and they should not be faulted for it or seen as uneducated. If someone that spoke English moved to Africa and had to learn the native African languages, they would have trouble as well. I believe that language is important but not just the English language. Every language is important because it is how people communicate and express themselves worldwide.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on about people thinking so highly of themselves for speaking English. There are so many languages and they are all equally important for not only connection between individual people but society as a whole.
DeleteAlivia Franklin
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Noah's observation of the connection between language and identity. On a daily basis, people use various languages to communicate and therefore connect. With so many languages and variations within them, it is not unreasonable to relate more closely to those who are more easily understood to an individual. English, although the most common language worldwide, is only spoken by about 13% of the global population. Even then, only about a third speak English fluently as their first language. With such a small percentage representing the most expansive language, billions of people remain stranded behind a language barrier in some capacity. Every now and again, a person might speak two or more languages proficiently, but not without the possibility of words getting lost in translation. I work in a Mexican restaurant where nearly everyone speaks English as a second language. Most of the time we get along great, but the language barrier does not stand unnoticed. On a busy day, it's pretty common for the workers start rattling off directions in Spanish, only to shake their heads and tell someone else when they realize I have no clue what they are asking of me. Sometimes, customers make unnecessary remarks about the way their waiters speak while paying for their food. So although language effectively brings individuals together, it possesses the power to push them apart.
I agree with your stance that language has the power to push people apart. Often, people tend to view people as less than for not speaking the same language as themselves. I feel it’s sad when people make those little snarky comments about the way people talk. Everyone is different, and no one should be looked down upon for speaking the language that they grew up speaking. It would be awesome if everyone could learn the languages that are common to their area, but a lot of people are not willing to try.
DeleteI find Noah’s insight into the power of language very telling and accurate. His personal experiences during his childhood demonstrated the true power that language brings to a society. His claims suggest how a similarity, like a common language, can establish a strong connection despite his peers initial perspectives seeing him as different. Noah’s story paints the picture of the wall that a language barrier can put up; but it also shows just how weak that wall can be. Working in fast food, serving hundreds of customers over the past two years, I have come across many people who have do not speak English as their first language. Some people I have worked with have expressed opinions viewing those that do not speak english fluently as unintelligent. I think that language should be a thing that brings us together; it’s a powerful tool that allows us to connect and build a world of understanding. However, it can often have the opposite effect. Some fail to see that their normal can be drastically different from another’s. The perspective that Noah brings from his childhood shows how powerful language can be in society.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Ruggles
DeleteI agree with you on the fact that language should be a tool which brings people together. We can look back on previous generations and learn from their mistakes. Instead of creating a divide, we should educate ourselves on languages and cultures to strengthen our human connection. I do also agree that many fail to realize the similarities across groups of people, but encouraging those to see beyond their beliefs could go a long way.
Personally, I agree with Noah and his belief that language is what connects people. If we, as humans, do not speak the same language as someone else, there is usually no effort to make conversation. We miss out on extraordinary people because of a language barrier. His claims about the power of language suggest that you can get to know anyone by speaking their language. This way, people will feel that you belong with their group of people. For example, Noah speaks English. People viewed him differently as a child because he was able to do this. He was seen as a step up in society as opposed to others. Obviously in this scenario, English is seen as the superior language; even Noah’s family found this to be true. His grandmother asked him to pray to God in English because she believed their prayers would be answered faster. With this mentality, it would be hard to put any other language first. However, I believe that God answers all languages at all times; and therefore there should be no language better than another. A personal experience that I have had with language is riding in an Uber. When I went to Nashville, I rode in two Ubers where the drivers did not speak English very well. I only speak English, so there was not much conversation going on. After the rides, my friend mentioned that the driver was not very chatty, but he did not speak the same language that we speak. Why should we expect him to speak English? Shouldn’t we be expected to learn their language instead? During this type of situation, language is a valuable resource.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Soph! Everyone views English as the superior language just because we decided to try and conquer the world and take over so many other nations while forcing them to convert to our ways. English is a prominent language in the world for that reason, and many English speakers don't believe they should have to learn any other language. This is another common conception in society that just does not make sense; we should be respecting other cultures not putting them down and trying to prove that we are better then them.
DeleteI greatly agree with Noah’s assessment on the importance of language. Language is the most powerful tool of communication. Without language to communicate the unknown, large gaps of knowledge fester, leading to misunderstandings and fear. This fear is used to justify things like racism, segregation, and colonization. Noah and his mother’s use of language shows how language can be used to defy the gaps and assumptions that racism creates. By using language to communicate to many different groups, Noah and his mother become chameleons that blend into different racial groups and bridge the misunderstandings that racism and a lack of common language creates. This allows them to gain the respect of his peers, breaking the distinctions and segregation that the apartheid created. In present day America, finding a job without being fluent in English is a challenge. Doctorate or not, fluent english is necessary for many jobs. While a common language is greatly important when working, English largely takes precedence over experience. This leads many to come to the conclusion that the english language is the best language, and that those who do not speak it are “primitive,” “savages,” or unknowledgeable in their fields. This mindset is extremely illogical and falls apart when looked at with more than a passing glance. If everyone viewed those who did not speak their language as unintelligent, by that logic everyone is unintelligent. While language is a powerful tool of communication, a lack of a common language should only be viewed as a learning opportunity instead of a chance to further divide humanity. During the summer months, I have stayed with people from Ukraine, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Germany. While not being able to quickly communicate sucks, especially in a living situation, such experiences allowed me to learn greatly from and appreciate other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that the lack of a common language should be used as a learning opportunity. Not only can it be used to understand what someone else might be saying, but I think it is the perfect situation in which to begin exchanging ideas of culture, religion, or even personal interests in order to build a more connected world. Everything is better with connection and communication; without it, and as you said, fear builds and assumptions are made that tear apart trust and understanding.
DeleteThroughout the book, Noah uses his skills in language to get out of many dangerous situations. By using different languages, he was able to protect himself and disguise his true identity. Growing up in a community where English is the main spoken language, it is easy to differentiate and categorize those who do not speak English. On a visit to Niagara Falls, I heard many different languages and saw diversity in every place. As a child ignorant to the range of origins that the world contains, it was an awakening experience. That being said, I would agree with his statement that language defines a person more than color. It proves true with examples from his book. When he was going to be jumped walking home, he understood the language his followers were speaking, which allowed him to respond to them in their language, making them believe he was one of them. Because of his skin color, they categorized him as an easy target, someone who was not like them, but once they heard him speak, he was accepted. Language has the ability to bring people together as well as separate them. People struggle to have a separate identity than their background, and having characteristics that naturally separate them from others do not help.
ReplyDeleteI greatly agree and relate to your experience. Traveling is one of the best ways to open yourself up to different cultures and experiences. While differing cultures is normally used to alienate people, sharing experiences and learning from others is an amazing way to bring people together. Speaking others languages not only unites people but can also save them from going through things like Noah's experience with nearly being jumped.
DeleteAlyssa Ruggles
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Noah’s assessment of the importance of language; it is the basis of communication. The more we communicate with others, learning different cultures and beliefs, the better understanding we have of the world. From Noah’s claims, I believe the power of language is a beneficial tactic. Learning multiple languages increases perception; however, in Noah’s sake, it was a way to be perceived with respect. During apartheid, white English speaking South Africans dominated. Speaking the English language, he was viewed as intelligent and respectful; but speaking the Xhosa language, he was viewed as subordinate and impoverished. Due to the language barrier, other tribes and cultures were perceived as inferior, especially to English speaking South Africans. Even today, a language barrier affects Spanish speaking immigrants who come to the United States. With English as the dominant language, many learn to speak it in order to fit in with the rest of the population and benefit their careers. Moving forward, people should become more aware of the severity behind language barriers and respect different cultures; educating themselves on the matter could even be an advantage in the future.
You're correct in your assertion that immigrants must assimilate America's customs. I think, even more than that, they must forget their origins in order to be accepted; their neighbors and coworkers may scoff at their practices or religion, such judgments threatening their housing and income. Embracing white, American ideals unfortunately becomes a life-and-death situation for many folks.
DeleteWhile I agree with Noah’s evaluation of language, I believe that both race and English comprehension work in tandem to influence people’s judgements; one is not more influential than the other. White people with poor grammar and diction face little judgement, but people of color with a similar dialect are often interpreted as ill-intentioned thugs—even though their speech is a result of a deep-rooted, systemic lack of educational resources. Noah, however, is completely correct by implying that adequate English is valued heavily compared to all other languages. Western comedy, for example, loves to mock individuals with accents; a well known, pertinent example was the performance of black face, where white folks with offensive makeup spoke in only nouns and the occasional, weak verb, but culturally motivated humor still floods today’s comedy. A white comedian speaks of the Asian woman working at her nail salon, using a stereotypical accent to coax a laugh out of the crowd. Another jeers at a black woman’s dialect, centering his joke only around her behavior and utilizing false pretenses to humor his audience. Such lighthearted conversations foster internal biases among white folks, and these biases stretch to all individuals of a race, negatively influencing society’s perception of foreign and non-white people and proving that language barriers are far more than a mere inability to communicate.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your view on this. I think your examples truly prove Noah’s interpretations that fluent English speakers are seen as more valued. I found your assertion about these lighthearted jokes very insightful. I think these culturally motivated jokes do encourage internal bias despite them being seen as “jokes” or “just comedy” by many. I think the application of language and accents in this instance for the use of comedy may be a reason why as a society we still judge people for this today.
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree with Noah’s assessment of the importance of language. If it wasn’t, then why would human beings be the only recorded species with a complex and structured form of verbal and written communication that varies greatly between cultures? Words and grammar have the power to evolve and travel across the globe as though it were a living and breathing creature. Every individual has their own unique mannerisms, structure, handwriting, and sound; even people that speak the same language have varying accents that aid in telling where they’re from or how they were raised. Reading someone’s writing or listening to someone speak will always tell more about a person’s character than the color of their skin.
ReplyDeleteAs Noah suggests, English is seen as a language of intelligence in comparison to others. It's the language of powerful and wealthy first world countries, so it's no surprise that English has been directly associated with intelligence and strength. English has travelled the globe to create common ground and bridge the gap between individuals who wouldn’t be able to understand each other otherwise. As a result, those who can speak it fluently will always have an advantage over those who cannot.
I think Speech and Debate is a perfect example of how English is capable of acting as a bridge between individuals and of stressing the importance of language. The tournaments are obviously held in English, and all professionally published scientific journals used for researching speech topics are as well. However, there are occasions when a speech is delivered with words and phrases pulled from different languages. Sometimes this aids in understanding the speaker’s culture if it's a personal recollection, or sometimes it’s used to connect an audience to the people and politics of a different nation; it helps to make the speaker and their delivery that much more unique. As for the power of language, Speech has made it clear that it can be as strong as physical actions; whether it's making someone keel over laughing at beyond horrible puns or sob after describing what Yemeni civilians have witnessed in their near decade-long civil war.
I completely agree with your thought on this. English is necessary to survive and we take our abilities in language for granted. Using speech, the superiority of English is highlighted and allows us to see what our language means to others. The other point you brought up about language and the human race is a very insightful perspective as well. While other species do communicate in other ways, language is an extremely challenging topic to understand. Due to the wide variety of dialect in the world, it is awakening to see English so close to the top.
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