Language is the expression or communication of thoughts and feelings by means of vocal
sounds, and combinations of such sounds, to which meaning is attributed to human
speech (Webster's Dictionary 1999). Language is significantly made up of culture,
success, and free will.
Language can embark upon the hidden talents of what all great writers have today:
clarity, conciseness, and communication.
Many people are deprived of things such as attention, the forgiveness of another
person, and the ability to speak a language fluently. What several people forget is that
certain experiences can lead to a deprived language outcome. To have been deprived of
language, is like walking blind folded to hit a piñata. The target is there but one is not
sure where it is located.
Any person's walk of life may have experienced sudden deprivation of language, or
no language training at all. In the story Malcolm X we read: "Coming to an awareness of
language, I hand scratched to them how the white man's society was responsible for the
black man's condition in this wilderness of North America" (Malcolm X). Often, a
person's language barrier can be predicted through their culture.
Similarly, if a person has a handicap, one may have to conclude that this person
may have to work overtime to draw good success in language. Let us think of Helen
Keller: "The day language came into my life, the living word awakened my soul, gave it
light, hope, and joy set it free!" (Helen Keller).
For one to experience language, quite frankly, a person must work to obtain
mastery of it. For Helen Keller, her experience set her free and gave her a sensation of
finally knowing the unknown in her life.
Fear can rob any person of the unknown. For example, to have experienced fear
recently on what to write about may develop a lack of free will to try to write at all.
Language awareness is very important, because one can develop their sense of writing
skills through writing and reading.
"Language is the highest and most amazing achievement of the symbolic tic human
mind" (Susan K. Langer). A human mind is like a token. What one does not use may be
lost. The free will to choose language may actually become a barrier of choice.
In order to communicate properly, one must practice language skills: speaking,
reading, and writing in that language for mastery. Then, and only then, will language
skills begin to feel natural, flow wonderful, and become a natural part of the person's
daily existence.
Many lives have changed because of an increase in vocabulary and writing skills.
Whether it is through a job, or even a classification, language is a complete increase
toward accomplishment in one's life. It is also an incredible self-esteem booster for those
that lack motivation in life.
As for Helen Keller, her limited world, became great with great gain of language:
"It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib at the
close of that eventful day and lived over the joys it had brought me, and for the first time
longed for a new day to come" (Helen Keller).
Furthermore, a person may become genuinely frustrated with language, as in the
story Malcolm X: "I became increasingly frustrated at not being able to express what I
wanted to convey in letters that I wrote" (Malcolm X).
Determination can cause any person to choose to change and become a better
writer: "I saw that the best-thing I could do was get hold of a dictionary--to study, to learn
some words" (Malcolm X).
Little do people know that it's often the unseen areas, such as not knowing words
and taking the time as Malcolm X did, that will make the biggest language progress in the
near future. There is no such thing as a non-victorious study time, when it comes to
learning the printed word.
Consequently, my experiences in my early college career, led me to become
determined to finish my coursework. My experiences of getting an A- on writing
assignments only prompted me more to persevere and finish. My sense of hope in
wanting to complete my journey in school and life still exists.
As Malcolm X states eloquently: "It went a lot faster after so much practice helped
me pick up handwriting, etc." (Malcolm X). I can certainly attest to that fact as well in my
own life.
Through continuous writing practice I have become a better writer. I am, as a
precursor to that, enjoying writing a lot more, during these collegiate days, versus past
years.
Increased language awareness and skills highly affected the thought processes of
the writers. They became more confident, and one can just sense that beyond confidence,
there is also a bit of joy welling up in them as well. It's almost tangible. The role that
language played in the writer's lives was a monumental one.
If we consider that these are major players in our society... we start to think,
perhaps regular citizens could become large icons in America, if they will work toward
mastery of language. Malcolm X, who would have thought? One would have never
expected that he had any language deficiency, because he led millions to his call to action.
The improved use of language has improved my life because I have marked
improvement in schoolwork, tests, and book reports. I hate to think what my life would
be like without language skills. I think sometimes as humans, we all need to be reminded
whether young or old, not to be lazy, but to press on to mastery of our given language.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"Helping ALL to Succeed"
http://www.leading-online-business.com
Don Alexander, Published Writer & Online Business Mentor



