Language

Part 1:

I found this experiment very difficult. It is very hard not to communicate vocally when we are able to. Because I could not speak, I really did not have much to “say” and did not even really want to participate in the conversation since I truly couldn’t anyways. No gestures could have helped me express what I wanted to say. Not being able to communicate with words really limits the “meaning” of a communication. No important ideas or deep communication can be expressed.

At first, my partners looked at me in a very weird way, and kept on asking me what was going on with me. My husband told them what was going on. I still played the game. Once they found out, they pretty much stopped talking to me. I might have done that to myself too when I think about it. I guess I did not want to look like a fool. The only time they really talked to me was to offer me some wine or other things. Not being able to communicate with words alters the way people would normally react.  

The culture that has an advantage when it comes to communicating complex ideas is the culture that is able to speak. The problem is that it would be difficult to expand this complex idea with someone who basically cannot talk back. Signs and body movements are just not enough. The spoken culture would probably look down on the non-spoken culture. Not being able to express complex ideas limits the interest that a culture could have with another culture. It could also make it look inferior. People that are deaf are not able to communicate with spoken language. Unless these people have an interpreter, it is really hard to communicate with them. I would say that generally, people who are capable of spoken language will intentionally not interact with a non-speaking person. The non-speaking person will generally be left out and will naturally feel left out. It is very sad.  Spoken language plays an important role in the way people interact with one another.     

Part 2:

I have not been able to use only speech for communicating. Being French, I do use my arms a lot when I talk, as well as facial expressions. I repeated the exercise twice, and succeeded the second time. It was very frustrating though. I had to think about all of my body gestures while talking. It was not natural at all.

They saw that I was not myself. I did not tell them, but they noticed that something was different. That is also because I had to think about not using any part of my body while talking. I felt awkward, and must have looked awkward. What made it more awkward is that these people know how expressive I am.

Many cultures use their hands or facial expressions while talking or even listening. Spoken communication is as important as non-verbal communication. It defines who we are. I could just imagine someone who is giving a speech who cannot use the space or its body to give more sense or power to its speech. The lack of non-verbal communication would affect the overall quality of the speech. Actually, when we take a speech class, we are taught techniques to use non-verbal communication. These techniques are indeed very efficient. Some people master these techniques so well that they actually can become harmful to individuals. Speech is an art.  

Some people such as blinds cannot read body language. There are advantages to not reading body-language. For one, we might not have to worry so much about being judged or misinterpreting a body gesture. Still, it is a great ability to read body gesture as body gesture reveals so much information. Let’s say someone is giving a speech. Analyzing the spectators’ body gestures can give the orator much feedback about its speech. If the spectators seem asleep, the orator should maybe try to change the intonation of its voice or speak louder. It could also reveal that the speech in itself is not very interesting… Body gesture is very informative. It also reveals the state of mind of an individual, which can be a good indicator for another person to want to approach this other person or not. Let’s say that an individual is walking in a foreign country and needs to ask directions. This person is going to try to find another person that seems nice enough to answer to his question. In doing so, he will analyze the other’s person body gesture before selecting the person he will approach. The way someone walks, acts is very important. Body language is so relevant in the way we react with one another.