The power of language is a unique ability peculiar to human beings. Although some animals can communicate in non-verbal ways, making different sounds can hardly be called a speech. The language became the primary tool for communication between people, with which thoughts were transmitted from one person to another, from individual to society as a whole. In the modern world, people’s life is impossible without a language, since the birth, words, and expressions sound around them. Human life consists of interactions; the solution of specific issues depends on the effectiveness of the communication.
The most prominent example of the influence of language on society is the usage of proper language skills in politics. With their speech, the politicians create a specific image that is more or less convincing for those with whom they communicate (Mayr, Simpson, & Statham, 2018). The ability to speak gives the confidence to deliver a speech. Words and intonations help to build international relationships, inform about new events, organize work, and express feelings. The power of language consists of two major components: the capability to receive information and speak correctly. It means not only grammatical competence but also fluency, which helps to organize ideas logically, to discuss freely any topic, and to make a speech bright and literate. The success of communication largely depends on the level of development of these skills. Right expressions help to voice ideas and convey thoughts convincingly.
Eloquence suggests that a person is educated, has a high culture, and thinks outside the box. Another benefit is the fact that by learning a language, a person becomes smarter, because, those parts of the brain that are responsible for memory are involved; consequently, the brain absorbs information better. The power of language is a means of building relationships, receiving and transmitting new information, and expressing of one’s feelings. According to Baca (2019), the incapability to speak was most humiliating for him. “Words gave off rings of white energy, radar signals from powers that infused him with the truth” (Baca, 2019, p. 43). The more people are eager to succeed, the more they need to improve their language skills.
Going through this course, I learned much about literature and language. The latter has specific functions, such as cognitive, communicative, and social, which make it the basis of human communication (Rojo, 2016). I learned how to write research papers according to the academic writing process step-by-step. It has become clearer how to formulate the thesis and arguments in the different types of academic papers. Moreover, I acquired some research skills and learned how to find useful articles, data, especially how to evaluate the source credibility. From this point onward, I know how to use keywords, which might help me to write proper academic papers in the future. The meaning and value of my profession have become more evident to me. Speaking of communication, knowledge of several languages gives a person many new opportunities: education and information become more accessible due to a large number of different sources. Many of the most striking and high-quality publications are written exclusively in English. Doing the research helps to understand the subject better, exploring the main facts and opinions connected to the topic of study.
Finally, I want to congratulate all of the students for graduating. As we all manage the situation with the Coronavirus, this spring semester 2020 can also be called as COVID semester. A few years ago, the choice of this major, Health Science, must have been one of the most crucial life decisions. You have chosen a noble profession – to preserve the life and health of people. It is impossible to achieve this lofty goal without everyday work, and a great desire to overcome all difficulties, honestly fulfilling your medical duty, continually improve your professional skills. It will require great courage and enormous knowledge from you because the lives of people will be in your hands. Studying at the university remains one of the brightest pages in life. Students come to this university from different parts of the world. Despite some difficulties, together you learned to overcome them, helping and supporting each other. The experience gained at the university is of extraordinary value. Having mastered one of the most fascinating professions, you are now ready to contribute to society’s prosperity and development.
I want to take this opportunity to mention the importance of the course Writing 300. I am grateful for all the knowledge I received. It might be useful for each student’s future career, as the decision to hire graduates very often depends on their ability to speak the language effectively. The other meaning of the power of language is also essential. It is the transfer of experience, knowledge, and skills from generation to generation. Without a word, it would be impossible to know the past. The strength lies in bringing humanity together for some common, noble cause. When people begin to exchange and share their experiences, they continuously develop, improving this world and society around them.
References
Baca, J. S. (2019). When I walk through that door, I am: An immigrant mother’s quest. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Mayr, A., Simpson P., & Statham S. (2018) Language and power: A resource book for students. London, England: Routledge.
Rojo, L. M. (2016). Language and power. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.