Language Experiment

 Part 1)    

     For this portion of the experiment, I did not use any symbolic language (speaking, writing, or ASL), while my two partners in the conversation were free to communicate as normal. From my non-speaking perspective, it felt like I had much less impact on the conversation. A majority of time was taken up by my partners speaking to each other, while I would chime in with mime and gestures here and there. I also would mouth words, which helped me to be understood, but brought up the important fact that, although I wasn’t speaking, all parties still understood English, which allowed me to better communicate silently. My partners’ expressed that I seemed restricted in the conversation, and unable to partake fully as I usually would. One of my partners brought up the point that, because I told them the requirements for this experiment, they understood I was unable to speak and allowed more time within the conversation to try to understand what I was miming to them. In a different situation, this would be more confusing and all parties would probably have less patience. 

    My speaking partners definitely possessed the power in the conversation, while I, as the non-speaker, was limited to where they led the conversation and what they could understand of my input. 

    If we use this experiment to represent two cultures meeting for the first time, the one better equipped to articulate complex ideas would be the speaking culture. Although a culture built upon purely non-symbolic language would still be able to communicate, it would be less efficient and detailed than what a spoken or symbolic language can convey.  A speaking culture might be tempted to view a non-speaking culture as less refined or unintelligent. They may also view them as rude or hostile. This would be due to the speaking culture’s established norms surrounding communication leading to an ethnocentric bias. Although ASL is a symbolic language, it is not a spoken language. Many people in the deaf community have a hard time communicating in hearing spaces, and are often left as observers to conversations rather than participants. Another group that may struggle with spoken communication are those with autism that are either fully non-verbal or can become non-verbal in overwhelming situations. Many people with autism struggle with being misunderstood because of this difficulty with verbal communication, which can lead to even bigger feelings of overwhelm and frustration in a frequently already overstimulated group of people. Both of these experiences mirror a feeling of isolation and the inability to participate fully that I experienced during this conversation. 

Part 2)

    For the second part of this experiment, I was only allowed to communicate with spoken words, no different tones, gestures, or expressions. I was not able to last the entire fifteen minutes. One reason this was difficult is because I am very expressive when I speak normally, so communicating so “flatly” was very awkward for me, and myself and my partners were often laughing at how “off” the conversation felt. 

    My partners expressed that they felt very awkward engaging in the conversation. One of my partners expressed that it seemed like I didn’t care about the conversation taking place, and that it seemed like I wasn’t invested or “there” fully. 

    Signs and gestures are very important, at least in American culture, to be understood fully. When our body language does not match our spoken language, the entire interpretation of our words can shift. It is much harder to recognize when someone is being genuine versus when they are being earnest if their body language is not what one would expect. One of the functions of body language is being able to signal whether or not you are comfortable engaging in a conversation. Without this tool, it can become confusing and uncomfortable for all parties. 

    Many people have trouble reading body language. This can often cause troubles with socializing, either because of more anxiety that they will interpret a conversation wrong, or because others view them as strange. This also leads to an instance where not reading body language can be helpful. Many people that are neurodivergent have “strange” (non-typical) body language. This is often misinterpreted by neurotypical people, usually as rudeness or disinterest. In this situation, looking past the body language is important in actually understanding what an individual is saying. To add a different perspective, in cultures where the environment does not have a lot of light, or the view of others is often obstructed, it would be important to not rely on body language to communicate effectively. 

Part 3)

     In regards to written language, part one of this experiment would have been much easier if it was permitted. Written language provides a similar clarity to spoken language, especially in tandem with body language. 

    Written language provides many advantages within a culture. One such advantage is the ability to document the language. This also enables a culture to document stories and history without the use of an orator. Another advantage is being able to leave messages through time. As opposed to spoken communication which happens in real time, written communication is able to be produced in advance and left for someone to find. This makes delivering messages much easier. 

    Written language has a major impact on the globalization of ideas. Not only is most research delivered via written language, but with the growing influence of the internet, many people are interacting and sharing ideas online through written language. A vast amount of the content being consumed online are written articles. Written language has also allowed for the spread of literature, often translated into many different languages, to be shared globally.