ToK - Language

How much could you know about the world if you had no language or means of communicating with

other people?

ToK - Language

Name an object ....

ToK - Language

Write a sentence describing what is happening in these two pictures:

Compare versions...

ToK - Language

Language is a subset of Communication

.... but not all communication is language

ToK - Language

Body Language

ToK - Language

ToK - Language

ToK - Language

ToK - Language

What do we mean by language?

Language is symbolic

The use of a sound to stand for “that” object or idea:

• Red• Tree• Love

ToK - Language

Symbols

ToK - Language

Symbols

ToK - Language

Symbols

ToK - Language

What do we mean by language?

• Language is rule-governed.

• Language is intended.

• Language is creative and open-ended.

ToK - Language

Rule-governed:

• Grammar

• Rules

• Accepted vocabulary

• Needs social agreement

ToK - Language

Intended:

• Language is a form of communication, but not all communication is language

• You are bored in class, you catch someone’s eye and make a yawning gesture

• You are trying to look interested in what someone is saying but find yourself starting to yawn.

ToK - Language

Creative and open-ended:

You can write or speak a sentence that has never before appeared in the

English language

ToK - Language

Language enables us to communicate new information, to learn about people and places and ideas we have never encountered before…

... but to what extent should we trust it?

ToK - Language

There is an element of translation in every communication.

• A sends a message to B.• B receives the message and interprets it.• Misunderstanding takes place.

ToK - Language

A volunteer to describe the drawing......

ToK - Language

Why is it so difficult to communicate effectively?

ToK - Language

Some of the reasons...

• Most of the message we communicate is non-verbal.

• The words we use are vague, imprecise, and can be interpreted in different ways.

• We may have a “hidden agenda” that is not mutually understood.

• In this community, we all have different language histories and experiences – verbal and non-verbal! This contributes to the “problem” of communication.

ToK - Language

• Problems of meaning

• Language changing

• Language used to influence and persuade.

ToK - Language

Problems of meaning• Vagueness: fast, slow, nice, bald• Ambiguity:

“Refuse to be put in the basket”, “Flying planes can be dangerous”, “Eats, shoots and leaves”

• Secondary meaning: love, death, school, priest• Metaphor:

“She has her head in the clouds”, “My brother is a butcher”, “My doctor is a butcher”

• Irony:“Nice weather!”

ToK - Language

Changing language - language reflects our changing world.

• Gender issues• Political correctness• Technology• Slang• International travel• Internet + media

ToK - Language

Language used to influence and persuade.

Propaganda and manipulation through language using:

• Emotionally laden words• Weasel words• Grammar• Revealing and concealing

ToK - Language

Emotionally laden words:

• Terrorist / Freedom fighter• Pro-life / Pro-choice• Free speech / Hate speech• “Blocking your child’s access to

objectionable material on the internet is not called Censorship – it’s called Parenting” Al Gore

ToK - Language

Weasel Words:

• “many”,“ should”, “probably”• “Probably the best lager in the world”• “Our product can reduce wrinkles by 25%”

ToK - Language

Grammar:

“We bombed many villages”“Many villages were bombed”

ToK - Language

Revealing and Concealing:“I have invited an attractive blonde to the party”“I have invited a cellist to the party”“I have invited my sister to the party”“I have invited a marathon runner to the party”“I have invited a lesbian to the party”“I have invited my best friend to the party”

In war: Neutralise; Pacification; Liberate; Strategic Redeployment; Security Assistance

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at a Uinervtisy, it deosn't

mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny

iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the

rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can

sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the

huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but

the wrod as a wlohe.

ToK - Language