LANGUAGE - Session Four ('Nothingness')

After our productive discussion - keep in mind a few things:

if you don't make your voice heard, it wil be difficult to know the power of your thoughts.

when it comes to the distinct subject areas (the Arts, History, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Math), then knowledge claims differ.

The assignment for next week reads:

Consider the following questions. Then, choose ONE and discuss it in an essay form (intorduction, body paragraphs, conclusion). Use external sources (do not steal other people's thoughts without giving them credit). Page length (2 whole A4 pages minimum). Written by hand, not typed, with a margin on the side.

1. If languages are systems of symbols, how can we be sure that the symbol represents the thing for which it stands?

2. If language rests on symbols, how can it be the thing itself, that is our identity, our consciousness, our life?

3. How does language resemble other things or people to whom we grant power?

4. Can it be said that language is one of the several instances in human life in which we create something, forget we have made it, and yield to it maximum authority? What other instances, if any, are there in which we do this?

5. One definition of a miracle is the beginning of something out of nothing. Can language be considered a miracle?

6. If you were to write a poem about the absence of language, would fear be the dominant emotion you would emphasize or would you stress some other emotion?

7. Identify several different kinds of language. Are any more effective than others in changing nothing to something?


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LANGUAGE - Session Three

After surviving our bout with theories about the origin of language as 'the communication tool' for the human race - remember to do TWO things:

1. Comment on the blog, regarding last week's assignment. Ignoring it would not make it go away.

2. Make sure that you substantiate your claims for ONE of the THREE given statements (from the green board), with concrete examples, examples that could be verified from various documented sources.

LANGUAGE - Session TWO

Check the following links:

1. http://www.ethnologue.com/

2. http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/form_lang.html

3. http://www.fdavidpeat.com/bibliography/essays/maths.htm

4. http://logos.uoregon.edu/explore/socioling/

5. http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/langorigins.html (MUST CHECK)

In your notebooks, take some notes of the findings - what you read and how it affects they way you think of language.

Then, look at the sets of questions I gave you in the 'Ways of Knowing' on Language. See if you can answer one - in writing.

See you Tuesday.

REMINDER

For our third session next Tuesday, September 19th, 2006, you need to bring with you an example of non-verbal communication (e.g., film, photo, painting, music, etc.) that strikes you as far more powerful than anything words can express. Of course, we need to be convinced why that is the case.

Welcome