Languages Have Two Sides

Just as every coin has two sides, so does language. For every negative, there is a positive; for every failure, a success. Language plays an extremely important role in life, has a great impact, and opened up a new perspective. On the other hand, language also creates major issues in society, such as stereotypes. Language influences people's lives, resulting as in positive and negative outcomes.

What would life be if you had been born without the ability to understand language or to speak? How would you interact with others and society and express your feelings? Would it be different if you live in a world where you can't read or writes? Language greatly influences those who have troubles understanding language; because it helps shapes your thought and opens up a new perspective. It means that when you're learning a new language, you're not simply learning a new way of talking, you are also inadvertently learning a new way of thinking. Language grants the ability to communicate with others and share feelings and stay connected. Based on Helen Keller's personal narrative, "The Day Language Came into My Life," she explains how her existence has been isolated in "in a dense fog" (72). Keller has been blind and deaf since 18 months old, her life felt meaningless prior to language entering her life. She didn't know a single alphabet letter and, thus, has no way to connect with things in life, her family, or even the world. Ms. Sullivan, Keller’s teacher, introduced Keller to the world of language by patiently teaching her how to spell each word with her hands. Keller came to understand language over time and learned that "everything had a name, and each name gave birth a new thought" (74). For instance, if you think about the word appl...

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...is already assimilated to the American society. Furthermore, if an American does not know how to pronounce a person's foreign name, they tend to give in their best shot to pronounce that person's name even if it is incorrect. Although many foreign immigrants would consider such action as a type of prejudice or discrimination, in this case, like Firoozed Dumas did.

Language does not always take one side, for it can opens up a new perspective by providing the ability for certain people to communicate and express their feelings to stay connected with family or society. However, it can also heavily impact a person with learning disabilities by taking away their confidents. At the same time, the use of language also forms discriminations and stereotypes in society as well. Overall, language have the power influences a person’s lives, in both a positive and negative ways.