Language: Connections to AOKs
Ethics |
Ethics is the study of morals. In this area of knowledge, language is essential, although it serves a different purpose than it does in others areas such as the natural sciences. Language is the medium through which humans formulate thoughts and ideas and create thought processes, even in our minds. Because of this, it is vital in allowing individuals to reach an ethical decision or take an ethical stance. Without language, we would not be able to have complex thoughts or concepts, only vague, unclear feelings about what is right and what isn’t. This means that the words we choose when discussing and thinking about ethics are extremely powerful, as they describe abstract but universal concepts such as “right and “wrong”.
These words are value-laden and depend, on individuals’ subjective understand of them – on their personal knowledge. Instead of having absolute meanings, language as used in ethics is more nuanced and ambiguous. Language can be either neutral or value-laden - when choosing words, we select them from a pool of words with identical or similar objective meanings, but different connotations. Examples of these are: · Freedom fighter >< Terrorist · Devout believer >< Fanatic · Homosexual >< Faggot Concepts that are used in ethics are often emotionally charged, as well as value-laden. Because of this, language can be used to manipulate opinion on ethical issues. For example, a person who is against abortion may use emotionally charged language to whip up a frenzy amongst a crowd during a demonstration, using words like "murder". In this way, the word choices we make reflect our own values and beliefs. Someone talking about a “faggot” will be perceived differently to someone talking about a homosexual person, and will likely have different values. These connotations and associations we have with words are intertwined with our personal knowledge and worldviews. This is one of the ways in which language is unreliable as a method of communicating knowledge in ethics: The words we use are value-laden and their connotations depend on the individual in question. They must be understood by their emotional content as well as by their literal meanings, and these are difficult to communicate concisely and objectively. - Laila S. |
Natural Science |
Can we discuss and explain the natural sciences to individuals whose language does not have a category of words for the natural sciences? Language is an essential tool when it comes to the natural science. Without a language as a medium to communicate the ideas and topics of the natural sciences the task is near impossible as the natural scientific jargon that is associated with the area of knowledge would be extremely difficult to communicate. If language truly affects the way in which one thinks, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, then the ability to understand and comprehend the natural sciences is greatly influenced on the language of the individual.
David Bohm, an expert in the area of the natural sciences, has made an investigation of the role of language in science. He has also has looked into how particular world views are enfolded within the ways scientists use language and shown how fixed use of language can lead to blocks in scientific creativity. In particular,2Bohm has explore the communication between Bohr and Einstein which he traced to the different values and meanings that were placed on certain words and concepts. - Andrew B. |
The Arts |
Art is a language in itself, and vice versa. Where Natural Science tells us about the world we live in the Arts tell us about ourselves, and Language is a key part of that. The four main ways of knowing that affect the area of knowledge that is Art, are sense perception, imagination, emotion, and language.
Language is used both as a component of art and as a way of interpreting and exploring it. Literature Literature is the most obvious example of how language and art intertwine. Literature is an art form that is made up of written language, and helps shape it. Language supplies the writer with the words, terms and phrases he or she needs to convey the story or emotion desired, and thus supplies us with knowledge about what linguistic features we find aesthetically appealing. In literature, and specifically poetry, figurative language and imagery are heavily used to vary the language and enhance meaning. The poem above has two planes, a metaphorical plane and a literal plan. On the literal plane someone is remembering simply walking through a forest and considers what path he should have taken. On the metaphorical plan someone is looking back on their life reflecting on the choices they made and the direction they took their life in and how they present that to other people. Through language we are able to explore both of these planes and ones, and thus understand a meaning that is completely different than that the literal words are bringing forth. Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Visual Arts Visual Art does not use writing, but communicates in a word-less language |
The two paintings above both depict a woman reading, but convey very different messages. The first painting is sad, possibly angry, and has an air of sorrow and destruction. The second is romantic, beautiful, peaceful, and happy.
No words were used, yet the artwork speaks a language of its own, one we can understand.
- Louise T.
No words were used, yet the artwork speaks a language of its own, one we can understand.
- Louise T.