Critical Thinking and Language

Critical Thinking and Language

Elizabeth Alston

COMM251

January 19, 2012

Dr. Meg Garberina

Critical Thinking and Language

Language gives us the power to think. “We think with words. As we read this, we are using language to think. We have defined thinking broadly as the activity of the brain that can potentially be communicated” (Kirby & Goodpaster, Ch. 5, 2007). Without language we cannot converse which is directly associated with critical thinking. We need to be able to clearly communicate our thinking and language obviously plays a huge part in that. The greater ones language is, the greater the ability to think critically and express our thoughts. In this paper I will discuss how the critical thinking process is affected by language and persuasion as well as how language affects our expression of thoughts.

Language and language diversity play a big role in the critical thinking process. When we think, we think in our native language. Speaking in a different language or listening to and trying to translate a different language slows down the process. There are also different dialects to consider. When speaking the same language there are word choice decisions. What one person might say to express their feelings might mean something completely different to someone else. Babies, children, and adults express themselves based on their language experience and knowledge. All a baby knows how to do is cry for the first few months of his or her life. As they mature and experience life they gain the awareness of how to fully clarify what they want.

Language empowers and limits the expression of our thoughts. “The structuring, universalizing, and metaphorical power of language which enriches our perceptions and understanding can also deaden our perceptions, bend new data into old structures, warp analogies, and distort our memories” (Kirby & Goodpaster, Ch. 5, 2007). It is a very powerful thing to be able to express what we...