Language Essay free essay sample

Marquise Long Understanding the importance of language An American author named Oliver Wendell Holmes once stated, Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow. This quote, itself describes the importance of language as it embraces growth as an aspect of it. Language, which is a method of communication used by humans, allows for innovation and progress within the world. For starters, communication is important because it allows one to gain understanding and meaning about the world. Having knowledge about the world you live in is important to conquer everyday task that are essential to living.Factors of living such as getting a job, finding a place to live, and buying forms of transportation, all consist of using communication. Essentially, language is important because it enables one to stand up for themselves, explains what an individuals core needs are, and represents the specific region of the world an individual is from. Through the use of language, people are able to interact with each other on a level that promotes understanding in the world. Had a personal life experience that helped me understand the value within language.The event that expanded my view on the value of language was hen I went to France, Europe for my nineteenth birthday. I know its not the ideal teenage birthday get away but I didnt plan to go because of the beach or site seeing. Went because my girlfriend Tyler was studying abroad there and we have the same birthday August 6. Ironic right? The five years we been together we have yet to be apart on our special day. Tyler was very disappointed in knowing that we could not spend together, she would tell me in every letter and phone call. She would try to convince me to go because I had my passport but never been outside the country.So I was talking to best reined Trey about the situation and he convinced me that we should take the trip. He said This could be a birthday gift to yourself and this would be a perfect excuse to get out the country for the first time. Plus he was willing to take the adventure with me since he has traveled outside the country I thought that it would be perfect. We planned the trip on expedited. Com and were able to find a hotel and plane ticket for a reasonable price so we booked them. Not informing Tyler of none of my plans because I wanted it to be a surprise. Which would later find out that was a big mistake.When we first arrived to France, We flagged down a taxi and loaded our luggage onto the van. Upon entering the Van, stuck my hand out to greet the taxi driver and he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I wasnt use to being greeted with that gesture and I felt offended asking him, what was he thinking? He replied with a strong French accent and said, Thats the way we greet in France, dont take it personally. I looked at Trey with a relieved face and looked back at the taxi driver. I told him, I am from Los Angels California and we greet people by using a firm handshake. Need up greeting him properly with a kiss. This was the first happening that taught me the value of language. From this experience learned gestures, which are an expressive form of language can vary in different cultures as well. For example, the kiss that the taxi driver gave me is a gesture used in his culture to greet people. This is significant because it identifies where he is from, and reflects his cultural ties and practices. In addition, this experience, which taught me about another language, essentially taught me about another culture. In other words, language is a representation of someones culture.Understanding gestures as part of language is important because it represents the region of the world someone is from. The next scenario that taught me about language in this trip is when I ended up getting sick. On my way to surprise Tyler, Trey and I went to go eat at a restaurant where they served different kinds of dessert. I tried chocolate claim and unfortunately it was too sweet. As we sat in the restaurant I felt my stomach turning and started to get really sick. Felt nauseous and started to believe the dessert was too sweet for me. Couldnt take the pain and took a taxi to the nearest hospital.When I arrived at the capital, was immediately able to talk to a doctor and explain the symptoms was feeling. However, the doctor could barely understand me, and I couldnt understand him either. Wasted my time trying to explain the problem with stomach because the doctor couldnt understand any of it. I didnt speak his language nor did he speak mine. This was unfortunate because my symptoms were getting worse and I was in horrible pain. Luckily, we found someone who could translate for me to the doctor the symptoms I was feeling. This too, taught me the importance of language because it allows one to advocate or their needs.Although wasnt able to directly get through to the doctor, someone else spoke my language and helped me explain the problem. The use of language in this example is significant because we found a similar form of communication so that I could advocate for myself. Without the use of language, and a person who spoke my language, I wouldnt have been able to tell the doctor the dessert upset my stomach. The use of language in this example helped me get the proper medication prescribed To conclude, without language, humans are unable to communicate their necessities and perform basic duties.