Language Experiment
Part 1
For the first part of this experiment, I was asked to engage in a conversation for 15 minutes where I was not allowed to use any version of a symbolic language. This part of the experiment alone was very difficult in ways that while the other people in the conversation were able to use language, I found it difficult to get my point or even opinion across in the conversation. It was also challenging for the other people in the conversation as whenever I had to speak, they had to take more time figuring out what I was trying to say, which made the conversation more time consuming.
When it came to my impression of my partners, what made the conversation easier was that they were able to alter their way of communicating with me once they were able to understand the message that I was trying to explain. For the most part, their way of using language stayed the same, but when talking to me, the others would try to word things a little differently to make answering a question simpler where only one word answers were necessary instead of a whole explanation. If two different cultures were meeting for the first time, the culture who uses symbolic language would be able to communicate complex ideas better simply by being able to use symbols to explain certain words and also certain meanings. The speaking culture, when it comes to the non speaking culture, would have to explain stuff more complex and ask things a certain way to where an answer from a non speaking culture would be more simple and there would be a lot of work on the speaking culture in order to understand each other.
The individuals that would have a difficult time interacting with the spoken culture would have to be those who are deaf. Their way of speaking is mostly movement with their hands and facial expressions and using symbols around them to try to express their words and feelings. When those who can speak interact with them, some either ignore them completely or just say that they do not understand. Others try to learn the language themselves or try to communicate by having the people who are deaf read lips or spelling the words. There are people who choose either yes or no to trying to understand the deaf culture and language, which makes it difficult for the deaf culture to interact with hearing people.
Part 2
For the second part of this experiment, I was asked to spend 15 minutes communicating without any physical embellishments such as no hand signals, no vocal intonation, or no hand, facial or body movements. For this, I was able to last 15 minutes, but the conversation was difficult to keep as understanding each other was extremely difficult. When talking this way, it was interesting to see how even the sudden change in facial expression or even tone of voice could convey a certain feeling about another person's reaction. The partners in this conversation were affected in ways that the conversation became dull and it escalated to where we had to ask how we felt about certain questions, whereas with expressions or even movements, it is shown to that kind of symbolic language.
This experiment shows how signs in language are essential important in understanding another or even communicating effectively to where certain feelings or meanings can be conveyed to signs and symbols as simple as a facial expression. There are people who do have difficulty reading body language especially those who are blind and can not see the body language. The benefit to being able to read body language is instead of just saying words, the meaning behind the words without verbally explaining it can be stated as well through movement. I can not think of an environmental condition where it would be a benefit not to read body language unless a individual was trying to lie or trying to get away with something where body language would be a giveaway that they were lying.
Part 3
For Experiment 1, it would have been easier to use written language because an explanation would have been easier to convey certain symbols that could convey certain meanings. For the culture that uses written language to use, the advantage is that symbols can convey messages that are difficult by words and also the communication with other cultures opens up to where these symbols can be used to communicate. Written language has had a major impact on globalization or the spread of ideas around the world to where communication has been vastly shared and different ideas of how to communicate using different written language has also been shared.
For the first part of this experiment, I was asked to engage in a conversation for 15 minutes where I was not allowed to use any version of a symbolic language. This part of the experiment alone was very difficult in ways that while the other people in the conversation were able to use language, I found it difficult to get my point or even opinion across in the conversation. It was also challenging for the other people in the conversation as whenever I had to speak, they had to take more time figuring out what I was trying to say, which made the conversation more time consuming.
When it came to my impression of my partners, what made the conversation easier was that they were able to alter their way of communicating with me once they were able to understand the message that I was trying to explain. For the most part, their way of using language stayed the same, but when talking to me, the others would try to word things a little differently to make answering a question simpler where only one word answers were necessary instead of a whole explanation. If two different cultures were meeting for the first time, the culture who uses symbolic language would be able to communicate complex ideas better simply by being able to use symbols to explain certain words and also certain meanings. The speaking culture, when it comes to the non speaking culture, would have to explain stuff more complex and ask things a certain way to where an answer from a non speaking culture would be more simple and there would be a lot of work on the speaking culture in order to understand each other.
The individuals that would have a difficult time interacting with the spoken culture would have to be those who are deaf. Their way of speaking is mostly movement with their hands and facial expressions and using symbols around them to try to express their words and feelings. When those who can speak interact with them, some either ignore them completely or just say that they do not understand. Others try to learn the language themselves or try to communicate by having the people who are deaf read lips or spelling the words. There are people who choose either yes or no to trying to understand the deaf culture and language, which makes it difficult for the deaf culture to interact with hearing people.
Part 2
For the second part of this experiment, I was asked to spend 15 minutes communicating without any physical embellishments such as no hand signals, no vocal intonation, or no hand, facial or body movements. For this, I was able to last 15 minutes, but the conversation was difficult to keep as understanding each other was extremely difficult. When talking this way, it was interesting to see how even the sudden change in facial expression or even tone of voice could convey a certain feeling about another person's reaction. The partners in this conversation were affected in ways that the conversation became dull and it escalated to where we had to ask how we felt about certain questions, whereas with expressions or even movements, it is shown to that kind of symbolic language.
This experiment shows how signs in language are essential important in understanding another or even communicating effectively to where certain feelings or meanings can be conveyed to signs and symbols as simple as a facial expression. There are people who do have difficulty reading body language especially those who are blind and can not see the body language. The benefit to being able to read body language is instead of just saying words, the meaning behind the words without verbally explaining it can be stated as well through movement. I can not think of an environmental condition where it would be a benefit not to read body language unless a individual was trying to lie or trying to get away with something where body language would be a giveaway that they were lying.
Part 3
For Experiment 1, it would have been easier to use written language because an explanation would have been easier to convey certain symbols that could convey certain meanings. For the culture that uses written language to use, the advantage is that symbols can convey messages that are difficult by words and also the communication with other cultures opens up to where these symbols can be used to communicate. Written language has had a major impact on globalization or the spread of ideas around the world to where communication has been vastly shared and different ideas of how to communicate using different written language has also been shared.
Hey Serena,
ReplyDeleteVery good points you made in your blog.
I actually did the experiment with talking to one other person, so I found the fact that you had a more group conversation interesting. I can completely understand that this conversation would have been more time consuming. You are not talking to one other person in which one person talks and then the other. For a group conversation there are plenty of people involved and I'd say getting your thought on something could be hard. I also stated that the other person had to alter their way of speaking because full on thoughts were hard to express. You also stated that deaf people might have a hard time interacting with people with spoken language and I agree with that. I wrote on my response about having to work with people who use ASL, it is hard, it does take an extra minute to fully get an understanding. I would also say that the absence of body language or face expression, can make a conversation quite boring or dull. As for a written language, I liked the fact that you wrote that that is how different ideas can be shared. Very nice!
Part 1: In general, good description of your own experiences and the experiences of your partners. Were you able to ask questions? Initiate or change conversations? Provide detail to your answers? What limitations did you discover?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your conclusions regarding communicating complex ideas, but you seem to have a misconception here:
"the culture who uses symbolic language would be able to communicate complex ideas better simply by being able to use symbols to explain certain words and also certain meanings."
Spoken and written language IS symbolic language. The symbols (the alphabet) create the words your speak and write. What you are referring to are "signs", not symbols.
Well done choosing a real-life situation that mirrors this experiment, and I agree with your conclusions on the attitude between the speaking vs. the non-speaking.
Part 2: Again, understand that spoken language IS symbolic language.
Otherwise, good description.
I don't disagree with your conclusions regarding the importance of body language, but you are only considering the situation where body language matches and supports the information you receive from spoken language. What does it tell you when the body language doesn't match the spoken language? Humans tend to use body language as a type of lie detector. If spoken words don't match with the body language, we are more inclined to believe the body language and doubt the words. Think about how being able to detect liars might help an individual's ability to survive and reproduce.
Yes, those who are blind have difficulty reading body language, though they can hear vocal intonation. Those in the autism spectrum also have difficulty.
Regarding a situation where it might be good to ignore body language, think about a situation where body language might lie to you. When might body language of others mislead you and it would be better to ignore it? Do all cultures use the same system of body language? If you travel to another country, can you trust the information you get from their body language?
Part 3: Again, written language IS symbolic language. Makes sure you understand this concept. I'm having difficulty understanding your points here due to the mis-use of this term. What about the advantage of recording a culture's history? Communicating to many people reliably? Another student pointed out the advantages of posting informational signs and directions. There are many ways that written language benefits a culture. I agree with your ideas on globalization, but expand. Think about how written language now spreads quickly via the internet. Are there benefits AND disadvantages to this?