Language and Mind

Since foreign language is seldom used in local Ilokano community, if a native boy hears the word reticulate python, he Wernicke’s area halts in its function to interpret it. He may ordinarily have seen “sawang bitin” often before from other members of his community, the Wernicke’s area ceases to function here. To illustrate, somebody shouted that articulated python sneaks to him; he might miss the chance to prepare due to incomprehension of the word. This event might cause him harm. In wider scenario, most English words are hardly interpreted though the things or ideas they represent exist among us because we never heard them in childhood. Our parents and neighborhood never used them. It’s only in school we first hear them and imagine, we are exposed to few words that most of us would never use later in life.

Next, assuming many of us encountered familiar word like viper. However, though some words may be familiar, another burden for the Wernicke’s area is the visual image from the visual cortex. How could one interpret an unconceived thing? What will be joined if visual image is nothing? Many English words are taught to us in school when we don’t even see in or out of school the things being taught to us. Therefore, we cannot interpret them for the lack of previous or present stimulus that stands for foreign words.

It is necessary that words are familiar to the people and the things the words represent are present in their community. Their local language only provides possibly for this need. To illustrate, the word mango is common word. We don’t need to think deeply over our countless experience of it. Visual images are many, also with the taste, odor and texture. Absolutely, we never feel any difficulty in the thinking process with native language. Learning from other culture, their knowledge and technology can be possessed by the society.

Words are under process at formation of decisions in the association area. When about to speak Wernicke’s area arranges the sound patterns for the ideas. Then, the Broca’s area, also a cortex for language, provides details for the movements of the tongue and lips. These details are transferred and carried out in the motor cortex. The later is responsible for the movements of specific muscles in the body. One of the largest parts allot to tongue and lips. Obviously, these parts make a lot of moves and may speed unceasingly all day long.

Though many Filipinos could speak English legibly, another phase of the problem again appears. The society breaks into three separate groups lacking interaction. First, the natives who remain untapped with their inborn talents barely knows anything outside their society. Next the self motivated natives through reading a number of English books acquires vast knowledge outside, but due to lack of exercise in speaking English they remain unproductive resources. Finally, they consists the college graduate and post-graduates in and out of our universities. They use unfamiliar words proportional to their educational achievements, but they are constricted in finding native words to accommodate their great leanings.

The weakening of the people must definitely of communication. When required to use other languages, most of those reluctant to it are left behind are they are many. They lack of coordination of their minds, beliefs, and actions. This debilitation of their interaction due to difficulty in relating with other members of the society consequently weakens our operations. The crippling of our operations causes the weakening of our institutions, largely, our economy.