Language And Language: The Importance Of Language

Across the world and throughout every culture, one of the most celebrated and integrated aspects of human development is language. From a child’s first word to quotes and speeches to the significance of someone’s ‘final words’, language is a deeply embedded element of human life, and is the main signifier that most would agree separates us from other species. Being able to talk, to listen and to communicate is especially important in a child’s development as it allows them to do three important tasks: communicate with others, express themselves and to aid them in development throughout their life. (Crystal, 1987) Language (and, as they grow, literacy) allows a child to become an educated individual as they learn and inquire more about their surroundings, and language is seen as being “integral for success in modern society” (Winch, 2014)

Language is a vital part of communication, as knowing which sounds and phrases belong in certain places and how to convey each of these elements is the easiest way to

For example, a child in northern Switzerland could grow up learning and knowing German, then travel to the west and find themselves in a French speaking community. At this point, developing children will realise that their language, their culture, everything they’ve grown up to know, all of their experiences in language and communication will be completely different to someone else in another life. Piaget (1952) describes this experience as ‘disequilibrium’ in his Cognitive Theory, and is a fundamental part of one of the four stages of cognitive development. While this theory mainly focused on learning experiences like maths and physical effects, it also translates into language as this state of disequilibrium gives a child the opportunity to learn about both different cultures and languages as well as learning more about their