Benefits of the Study of Language
Language is the powerful tool of communication and cultural phenomenon. Bilingualism and high proficiency in the native language provide numerous advantages for the concerned individual. Namely, the linguistic knowledge allows improving the overall proficiency in a certain language and receiving the useful information about the social and cultural life of its native speakers while mastering the motivational power of words and experiencing rapid personal growth.
Firstly, linguistic helps to develop the sufficient mastery of language. Words are essentially the graphic representation of the abstract and material notions. In other words, they express the explicit and implicit meanings assigned to them by the society. On multiple occasions, one word may have several meanings. For instance, to love refers to exhibiting a deep sympathy for the living and inanimate objects. Meanwhile, its close relation to the word to like creates a confusion even for the native speakers of English. For the unaware user of language, the semantic discrepancy may remain unclear while the comparative analysis of the foreign languages indicates the inclusion of the specific terms to describe certain emotions. For instance, the Korean and Italian word-stocks include the word that denotes love only for friends, family and animals. The example demonstrates the importance of studying the artistic merits of language. This experience may help to acquire the substantial knowledge about the definitions of the basic language units as well as the numerous shades of their semantic meanings.
Moreover, the study of language reveals the multiple application for the linguistic knowledge. In fact, the in-depth look at semantics indicates that words have numerous connotations depending on the area of their usage. The advertisers extensively exploit this feature. For example, the use of superlatives, comparatives, hyperbole and exaggerations convey the sense of high intensity, aimed at promoting the product by increasing its practical appeal. The knowledge about the persuasive power of language may help to identify the similar techniques in the future. The repetition of this experience is likely to form the well-developed skill of finding and interpreting the intended messages. In this view, the products of the media industry and public relations strategies are the ideal objects for such practice. For instance, words cozy and cuddly in combination with the soothing music, pleasant voices and images of family, kids and pets evoke the feeling of the domestic warmth. Evidently, the market experts hope to establish the concrete link between the product and the feeling of homely atmosphere. In other cases, the target audience becomes aware of the deliberate downplay of the negative connotations by means of euphemisms. The use of intensive interrogation techniques instead of torture is aimed at avoiding the unpleasant associations and pacifying the audience. The provided example suggests that constant improvement of ones mastery of language stimulated the development of the communicative skills. This knowledge allows facilitating the adequate response during the act of communication. Therefore, it simplifies the process of conversation and production of the desirable effects on the audience.
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Secondly, the deep understanding of the motivating power of language suggests the numerous applications of linguistics for manipulation of public opinion. The source of its persuasive power is the strong connection between words and the related associations. Most of the popular advertisements are deigned to evoke the strong associations with the promoted products in order to stimulate the emotional reaction from the target audience. For example, Disneys brand is commonly associated with happiness and magic, the constant elements of the companys screen stories. The assertion suggests that the success of the commercial advertisement largely depends on the assumption that people will buy the product in order to re-experience the pleasant feeling of childish joy and adventure in the fantasy world. Similarly, the verbal persuasion and associative thinking is used to convey different messages depending on the anticipated results. The aim of the communicative act may vary in terms of the words implicit meanings. Advertisers use humor to establish the connection between the thought about the product and the pleasant memory of the careless joy and laughing. In other situations, linguistic knowledge may be used for transmitting the less pleasant messages. For instance, the strategy of scapegoating allows putting the blame for the extremely politicized issues of race, gender and religion on the other person. The supplied evidence strongly indicate the importance of studying the languages since it enables an individual to quickly identify the popular strategies of persuasion.
The assertion is especially relevant in relation to the political rhetoric due to several reasons. Firstly, the public discourse has the far-reaching effects on the process of the political decision-making regarding the vitally important issues of war, peace, justice, democracy and freedom. Secondly, the original message undergoes the complex process of correction and revision before being delivered to the target audience on behalf of the notable political figures. Therefore, the study of languages is the key to dismantling the mechanism of manipulations with the public opinion. The knowledgeable linguist can easily identify the embedded association and guess the anticipated results. For example, the calls for the support of the political action or idea are frequently necessitated by the references to the pressing need of the state citizens. This strategy is based on the assumption that nobody wants be let outside of the mainstream society and would follow the suggested agenda. The only visible flaw of this strategy that the heavy reliance on the unconfirmed information diminishes the credibility of such claims. The described technique is widely used in the election campaigns in order to obtain the necessary votes. The similar goal justifies the use of distractive techniques. For example, the seemingly unintentional reference to ones scandalous personal life in the form of negation may provoke the opposite effect and bring the attention to the mentioned issue. The strategy primarily exploits the common inclination to reject the ideas and objects that evoke the negative associations. It appears helpful during the political debates and is aimed at intentionally shifting the focus on the disruptive issues. Evidently, the study of language may help the citizens to see through the popular political slogans and choose the political affiliations on the more credible criteria.
Thirdly, the acquirement of the linguistic knowledge is culturally and socially significant. Language constitutes the essential part of nations cultural uniqueness. According to the recent studies, hundreds of the untranslatable words that express the specific emotions cannot be transmitted by mean of other languages. Therefore, the study of tongues provides the delightful insights into the unique worldview. The personal example of a notable researcher Christine Marin proves the assertion by illustrating the transformative power of acquiring ones cultural identity. According to her, the development of close relations with the Chicano Movement led her to the deep understanding of her Mexican cultural heritage. Marin became deeply involved and proud of supporting the organization that fought for the legitimation of the bilingual education, i.e. unrestricted ability to study Mexican history, art, language and literature in the university. The participation in the political campaign forced her to admit the importance of the personal responsibility for ensuring the continuation of ones cultural traditions. Moreover, the word Chicano came to denote the deep patriotism and empowerment since the sense of belonging to the large ethnic group made Marin acutely aware of her social and racial origin and enabled her with the resources and purpose to promote the interests of the Mexican Americans. Therefore, the study of language is associated with the extension of ones worldview and awareness of the necessity to preserve it as an attribute of the unique culture. This kind of experience forces the individual to embrace ones cultural identity.
At the same time, the study of language highlights the common stereotypes. The cultural differences appear to be rooted in the strong opposition between the ethnic minority and dominating culture. The personal experience of Marin from her childhood suggests that even singing in the native language may provoke the hostile reaction from the English speakers and demands to stop singing in Spanish. Being the representative of the ethnic minority and supposedly the user of another language also stimulates the emergence of the prejudices. According to Marin, the university professor was more inclined to accuse her of cheating than believe in her high proficiency in English because of the Mexican origin. The described situations strongly suggest that the language is also a tool of racial division. Therefore, linguistics provides the basic information about the cultural peculiarities and social status of the native speakers. This knowledge stimulates the sense of belonging to and responsibility for the preservation of ones culture.
Finally, the study of language offers numerous benefits for personal development. The linguistic knowledge suggests numerous opportunities for empowerment through the extensive career building. According to Marin, the high proficiency in English allowed her to enter the Arizona State University and receive professional training. Later on, the notable scholar made a quick progress from working as a bibliographer to obtaining a position of the designer of the archival repository for the Chicano Research Collection under the patronage of the movements leaders. She grew intellectually while collecting and studying the historical documents only to eventually become the teacher of La Chicana and Women in the Southwest courses. The impressive professional record and close ties to the Mexican American civil movements allowed Marin to raise her voice in favor of the promotion of her native culture through a careful study of the Spanish language and history. Therefore, acquirement and embracement of her cultural identity lead to the realization of her potential and necessity of being for acknowledgement.
Meanwhile, the study of language causes fundamental alternations on the physiological level. The systematic approach to the gaining the linguistic education stimulates the thinking processes. The recent surveys among the high school students indicate the well-developed ability to switch from one task to another in the bilingual students. Sharpening the learning skills essentially allows children to perceive and comprehend information in a more effective way. Meanwhile, the educational efforts help to maintain the human organism in tonus. The constant accumulation of knowledge and practice are the source of vitality, i.e. the prolonged duration of life. Therefore, the study of language largely contributes to the realization of ones potential through the climbing the career ladder and professional empowerment.
In conclusion, the power of verbal tools and benefits of linguistic knowledge may hardly be diminished. The in-depth study of language helps to develop the deep understanding of the words semantics and reveal the practical applications of the linguistic knowledge. The motivating power of language suggests that advertisement and politics are the possible areas of its usage. At the same time, language is the cultural phenomenon and indicator of the social status. Therefore, the study of tongues extends ones knowledge about the native and foreign cultures. Finally, the systematic self-education prolongs ones life and stimulates the mental activity. The presented findings suggest the potential benefits of stimulating the academic interest to the subject of the linguistic knowledge.
