The Eiffel Tower, an amazing structure with endless detail, inspires human ability to construct such beauty. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel and his crew assembled 18,000 pieces of wrought iron to complete the fascinating structure we see today. The process took just under 21 months, not including the time it took for Eiffel to draft his blueprints.
Communication is not achieved by ascending a floating set of stairs. A series of events and experiences constructs our ability to communicate effectively with others. Many of us never think about detail in the structure of our language. Since the process begins at birth, it seems as if we have effortlessly constructed our native language. The case is rather that our brain has worked, even as we have slept, to make connections and build the language we use every day. The connections are assembled to construct communication that is unique from other members of the animal world.
Noam Chomsky, linguist, political activist, writer, 1928 - , has studied the nature of language and indicates the unique elements of human language are structures within the brain that cause innate abilities. He compares these innate abilities as similar to our ability to walk. These structures of our brain give us ability; experience and cultural interaction determine the particular dialect we speak. Therefore, we do not innately know English, or any other language for that matter. We construct our language to participate in the context of our experience.
Humans are adaptable, creative, and innovative. Our minds construct more than skyscrapers and industry. If we look closer, can we appreciate the beauty in the structure of our language?
Picture credit given to: credit Sigurd Decroos credit Michael Faes
Picture credit given to: credit Sigurd Decroos credit Michael Faes
Good abstract photos. I think stating something about the length of time to build the Eiffel Tower and all the different pieces and how mastering a language takes time and a many different pieces.
ReplyDeleteI liked the floating stair because stairs need a foundation and mastering a language needs a foundation on which to build on.
I also think that the paragraph on Noam Chomsky might have been more effective with a post of its own
Interesting photos. I think the link between structure and language makes a lot of sense. There's the literal link between how we structure our language, as well as more subtle things, like how they relate to our culture and society. I think the point about context is interesting too, because without that, nothing means anything.
ReplyDeleteMatt hit it right on about the importance of context. Nothing really can mean anything without it.
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