Importance of Language in the Contemporary World

In the free world, the freedom of speech is imperative. Everyone has the right to express himself/herself regardless of intelligence, academic qualifications, financial status, and race. Human beings are extraordinary creatures in that they can voice their feelings, thoughts and opinions by word of mouth. This is one of the distinguishing features from other primates and animals in general that the Almighty thought it best to bless us with. It makes communication easier and enhances interaction. It is for this reason that communication skills are essential for smooth social cohesion. However, this freedom of speech is not without its exceptions and limitations. For instance, in the event of expressing oneself, one should not insult or annoy the next person. Your words should not provoke violence or hate in others. More so, it is good to note that although you have the freedom of speech, sometimes meaningful silence is always better than meaningless words.

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Purpose of Research

Everything revolves around communication. It facilitates understanding between one another and enhances connection. It is through communication that one can make their thoughts known and wishes understood. Communication takes different forms, and the sole purpose of communication is to relay a message from one person to another. Without communication, the world would be a chaotic place and a lot of guesswork would be incorporated in establishing the thoughts of others. Similarly, it would be impossible to express one's feelings. Communication can be divided into two broad categories, verbal and non-verbal given that the most common used form of communication is the latter.

However, we cannot afford to ignore non-verbal communication. It is usually a more serious and deeper form of communication as compared to oral. People may lie about how they feel, but they always show; it is for that reason one should always be careful about the messages one sends using body language.

Technology has also played a significant role in enhancing communication. Unlike the olden days where communication over long distances was limited to postal mail, modern communication has been made quicker, efficient and more reliable; thanks to technology. The greatest invention in this sector was the internet which has made communication easier and provided a platform for accessing information.

Below a research proposal is aimed at determining the importance of language in our society, the roles it plays in enhancing communication and how technology harnesses language to facilitate communication over short and long distances.

Background

Language is of ultimate importance in the society. It is the primary medium through which people connect and socialize. Therefore, it is very crucial to be aware of the ways in which language works. Language can be used to enhance the sense of belonging. Moreover, language is the main indicator of the various parts of the world people are from. In overseas countries, one can use language to find their fellow citizens from home country. In worldwide events such as World Cup and Olympics, people use their national language to symbolize the unity and togetherness. Using your mother tongue in some cultures shows that you are proud of your ethnicity and portrays a sense of belonging CITATION Jan12 \l 1033 (Jackson, 2012).

Language works to allow the connection of various people. In his book The Banking Concept of Education, Paulo Freire says, Reading the written word involves understanding a text in its very particular social and historical context. (Asoke, 2011).

In this statement, Freire is emphasizing the importance of language in understanding the world around us. Although verbal communication is preferred by most people, it is equally important to be conversant with body language. Language is used to set the mood and tone of a conversation. Choice of words can be an accurate predictor of the tone and mood of the speaker. The tone in which a language is spoken is critical for determining the current mood. For instance, using language in a high pitch is suggestive of arguments and misunderstanding. Similarly, a person talking in a smooth low tone is relaxed and composed. The nature of the language used can also tell us more about the character of a speaker. Being polite involves use of the five magic words, namely, Sorry, Excuse Me, Thank You, Pardon Me, and Welcome. The manner in which language is used determines how people take you. If you want to be taken seriously, you ought to use simple but formal language.

Finally, language works to pass information over communication devices. Before the discovery of video calls, language was the only way you could send information to a person who is not in your vicinity. In such a case, language is the only medium which can be used and the information received by the other party is entirely dependent on your choice of words CITATION MAK07 \l 1033 (Halliday & Webster, 2007).

Research Design

To investigate the importance of language and how it has enhanced globalization, the research design that will be adopted is descriptive with individual interviews surveys of certain factors relating to communication and exploring the status of the elements to be evaluated. The research will adopt a descriptive design as a method of the investigation of the phenomenon under study. Descriptive research provides clear defined information and conclusive findings. It will describe the frequency with which the variables are conveyed. The detailed research will help determine the roles of language in promoting social cohesion and how language use differs depending on variables such as age, context, technology and place.

The target population of this research proposal will focus on Japan residents preferably those who have resided there for at least ten years as opposed to visitors who are not conversant with the Japanese culture and language. The first group will comprise the old who have a high chance of having witnessed the transition in language use over time. The second group will include the youth who will comment on the contemporary language and analysis will be made of the two groups. The use of language between the two groups will be determined and their importance evaluated. For instance, through this research we will be able to establish to what extent the Japanese language has promoted unity among the Japanese as well as its importance and roles in various sectors of Japan.

The information obtained will then be used to evaluate the importance of language, how it has evolved over time and helps us answer the research topic.

References

Bhattacharya, Asoke. (2011). Paulo Freire. Dordrecht, Springer, 5-10.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Halliday, M A K & Jonathan Webster. (2007). Language and society. London: Continuum, 21-29.

Jackson, Jane. (2012) The Routledge handbook of language and intercultural communication. New York : Routledge, 56-62.