Education has been in existence for many decades, yet people have not understood the link between identity, language, and education. In my learning experiences, I have encountered many ways through which language can be transformative. Education has been thought of as the engine of development. Yet, all it has done is produce people who are good at memorizing concepts without knowing their real implications in life and society.
Freire (1974) confirms this when he says, “The outstanding characteristic of this narrative education, then, is the sonority of words, not their transforming power” (p. 1). Reading Freire’s work made me realize that education is not enough for an ethical and socially-inclusive life. Reflecting on my personal life, I understood that most of the transformative values and attributes were developed outside school and with people who spoke a different language than me.
Throughout history, language has been used to identify a group of people. Baldwin (1997) attests to the critical role of education in society when he argues that the primary role of language is communicating and understanding each other’s thoughts and emotions. Baldwin’s statement implies that language can be used to develop a more profound understanding of each other’s identity and positively impact society.
In reference to language and culture, Walker (1994) refers to the black women’s talent endowment and artistry and mentions that regardless of the impediments in her way, the African woman always found a way of expressing herself. Reflecting on the above statements, I understand that success in the future depends on my use of language to express myself while demonstrating a deep understanding of other people’s identity and cultures.
In conclusion, language has provided society with the means to communicate, generate knowledge, and express cultural beliefs uniquely. The education system has failed its role by producing people who can only memorize without an accurate understanding of concepts. However, as Baldwin and Walker point out, language can be transformative if individuals decide to look at the greater good of society. This would serve as an expression of a people’s identity for unity rather than stratification.
References
Baldwin, J. (1997). If Black English isn’t a language, then tell me, what is? The Black Scholar, 27(1), 5-6. Web.
Freire, P. (1974). The banking concept in education. Set: Research Information for Teachers, 1974(1), 1-4. Web.
Walker, A. (1994). In search of our mothers’ gardens. Duke University Press.