NationStates Jolt Archive

Does language really have a meaning or is it simply a social construct which is constructed by us? like does a word actually have a meaning above it's assigned context which we construct? Id like to know.

If you think language has no actual intrinsic meaning, then does that mean racist slur is justified? or that in essense true communication cant exist, and that what we say doesn't matter.

Here is an interesting idea. Can you have thought without words? Most people when they are thinking to themselves think in words. How would we think without words.

In pictures?

Yeah i was thinking that too. like visualization of things... not really thinking in words but in pictures.

Who chooses what words are offensive or not offensive? Who says we can't say 'offensive' words? Please, no longer say car. It offends me.

I have always wondered what a deaf and blind person thinks about.

perhaps in loud...schreeching


or in some under-evolved language, like other animals. They MUST have some kind of thought.

perhaps in loud...schreeching


or in some under-evolved language, like other animals. They MUST have some kind of thought.
Sounds and pictures would probably be undistinguishable.

Thats a difficult question, if you are deaf, you can't hear words to from thoughts, and if you are blind you can't see pictures, so how would you think, not through words or pictures. Maybe your mind would create its own language of sorts.

I think in textures. Right now, I'm having very slimy thoughts.

I think in humans it's socially constructed. But I think it could be possible for some words, like mother, father, and such, to become part of us. Like babies respond to smiles from when they can see, maybe at some point words will become innate.

I wonder if researchers said words to babies, would they get a reaction?

Thats a difficult question, if you are deaf, you can't hear words to from thoughts, and if you are blind you can't see pictures, so how would you think, not through words or pictures. Maybe your mind would create its own language of sorts.

I believe that different areas of the brain would take over the information processing. If you were deaf from birth, then your auditory system would likely be very small, but your visual system would be larger than normal.

If it was sudden deafness or blindness after the development of the systems, I still think one would be able to compensate.

I believe that different areas of the brain would take over the information processing. If you were deaf from birth, then your auditory system would likely be very small, but your visual system would be larger than normal.

If it was sudden deafness or blindness after the development of the systems, I still think one would be able to compensate.But what about both?

All animals including humans think in emotions, feelings. For humans rationality is built on top of this. You can understand the nature of language if you learn more than one. I'd like to do that.

But what about both?

Well.... There can be language if you're deaf/blind. It's a lot harder though. Brain centers don't just go away, and through touch they can learn a lot.

The question would be... if you were sensory deprived, would your brain innately have words in it?

well, I think communication with people who are both deaf and blind happens via touching, so maybe such a person would think in feelings.

Does language really have a meaning or is it simply a social construct which is constructed by us? like does a word actually have a meaning above it's assigned context which we construct? Id like to know.

If you think language has no actual intrinsic meaning, then does that mean racist slur is justified? or that in essense true communication cant exist, and that what we say doesn't matter.

Language clearly is a social construct. It has meaning to the degree that people agree to the convention of a meaning. Which doesn't mean it is meaningless. LIFE has only the meaning we give it. Its value and meaning are not intrinsic. That doesn't mean we don't value our lives. And certain words evolve (MUST evolve) into which we pour all our vitriol, all our hatred, all our biases, and bigotries, and negativity. That's what gives a racial slur power. If we decide that a word like ****** isn't a slur anymore, people who hate blacks are just going to find some other word to load down with their hatred.

Words are just ways of people wantin to be different. In whatever tounge you say spoon, the though of an eating utinsel that has a long handle and wide tip. Words are just a strive to be different.