Signing, Singing, Speaking: How Language Evolved
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129155123
Summary
I was interesting in reading this blog because from the title I imagined it would be about speech and sign language. I am very interesting in learning sign language and therefore was interested in the article. This article is describing the complexity of language and how it makes not only the human species but also many animals so advanced and complex. It is thought that the basis of language may have come from signing among tribes that used these signs in order to be silent while hunting for prey. Another theory is that the gestures came from a language that already existed. While many people may think that only humans have complex language, many animals have the same sense of language that we do, even when it comes to musical rhythms. Music is suggested to have a strong connection to language as the sounds flow together, and many animals can pick up on musical tones and rhythms. Whether or not signing or speaking came first, it is apparent that language is an extremely complex part of what makes us able to communicate and what makes animals able to communicate. Language is extremely important in our day to day activities and is sometimes taken for granted.
Personal Response
After reading this article I understand in a lot more depth why language is so hard to learn. There are so many complex aspects to language that as a fluent speaker I do not pick up on, however, when I am trying to learn a new language, I have a lot more difficulty. Language is one of the most important parts of society and of the world because it is what allows communication between people. I have a big interest in sign language and that is why this article interested me. I would love to be fluent in sign language and I found it interesting that it is not known whether or not signing or spoken language came first. I have always been interested in language and what makes up a language. I like to think about how language came about and how different languages were formed because spoken languages vary so much. However, now I understand that there is so much more than just spoken language; animals have a language and music can even be thought of as a language. I do hope to become fluent in sign language by the time I graduate college.
Connections
This connects to the field of education in a great way because when children are developing there are many children that do not develop spoken language as soon as most children do. However, many of the students that are not able to speak the language their parents are trying to teach them, have a language made up of gestures in order to help them get what they want expressed. Even babies have a language. It is so important for teachers to understand that there are many different ways to interpret language and I think sign language is one of those important ways. Students should be learning many different languages as children because that is when language is best absorbed. It is one of the most important parts of learning and having the ability to learn.
Personal Opinion
I really enjoyed this article because I thought it was interesting how they explained the relationship between language and music, and how even animals can pick up on this language. There are so many people that should understand how important and complex language is. Many people do not fully understand the complexity of language because it seems like it comes so easily to the majority of people. However, in reality language does not come easily to everyone. Educators need to understand that they should be able to work with students in order to help develop and understanding of language.