Language blog

 Part 1.

Perspective

From my perspective, speaking without using spoken language was much harder to convey the message or the reply that I wanted. My partner and I both felt like it was somewhat like a game of charades or a dictionary, where you have to use everything but your voice to get your point across. That being said, my partner also mentioned that without using my voice, it left a lot of room for her to assume or fill in the blanks, because I wasn’t using words to describe or respond. Instead, I relied on facial expressions, which can be interpreted in various ways depending on movements of the eyebrows, head, or hands. This experience could also be described as somewhat comical at times.

Power

When it comes to describing who had the power—the speaker versus the non-speaker—personally, I felt that as the non-verbal speaker, I had the power to set the tone of the conversation, even though I wasn’t conversing verbally. By not saying anything and using only head gestures, hand movements, or eyebrow raises, I left a lot of room for my partner to decipher or guess what I was trying to communicate.

The Upper Hand

This question seems tricky: which culture would have the advantage in discussing complex communication within their own population? In my opinion, the answer is simple—both would have equally fair advantages when communicating within their own group. Think about it: if I'm representing a culture of individuals who are non-verbal, wouldn't our dialect be different from a culture where the majority of people are verbal? Over time, wouldn’t we learn to communicate without words, using facial expressions, hand gestures, eyebrow movements, grunts, or even dances to describe emotions? If we want to get more technical, within the population of verbal speakers, isn’t there a hierarchy of who can use verbal language the best? For example, a college-educated professor and a 5th-grade student both communicate verbally, but the professor can use words and concepts that the 5th grader may not comprehend.

Attitude

The attitude that the speaking culture may have toward the non-verbal culture could be one of frustration. It may even feel as though there is some sense of superiority over those who cannot communicate verbally.

Cultural Norm

There are many people in our culture who have trouble using spoken language or cannot understand it. These individuals are often considered "different" because they don't fit the traditional standard of a person who can communicate by simply talking and listening. What about people who are sick, such as those with tracheal cancer, who can’t speak and must use a device to help convey their messages? What about individuals with autism who are non-verbal? Why does communication have to be so frustrating?

Part 2

My partner in this experience felt that my conversation came off as a bit bland or stale. The conversation lacked emotion and seemed to have a sarcastic tone. What made the experiment difficult for me was the fact that I couldn’t convey emotions through facial expressions, body movements, or even head gestures. Often, when we speak, we use facial expressions to show emotions, as well as to provide reassurance that the message has been received.

When discussing the aftermath of the experiment, my partner didn’t feel uncomfortable with the 15-minute conversation itself, but it was the lack of emotion that made the experience unenjoyable and created an unfamiliar feeling when talking to me, especially since I am usually very emotionally expressive.

Signs are necessary to get a clear point across; they are equally important as spoken language. Without signs, we would have no descriptions. When our body language doesn’t align with our spoken words, it can create discomfort, convey false information, and give off an untrustworthy vibe. It also introduces a sense of discrepancy.

Yes, some people, such as those with autism or social anxiety, may struggle to read body language. In certain environments, like high-stress situations or when focusing on clear, objective communication, not relying on body language can be beneficial. This approach helps prevent misunderstandings, reduces distractions, and ensures that communication remains focused on verbal or written cues, which can be especially useful in diverse or virtual settings where non-verbal signals may be unclear or misinterpreted.

It would have been easier if I were able to use spoken language. Remember, if you don’t say anything, most people won’t understand what you’re trying to communicate, how you’re feeling, or the point of the conversation. The advantage of written language is simple: with our growing society, people can always contribute to it and help others understand its meaning. It’s kind of like the Bible—it says one thing, but there are countless interpretations based on how we read it, or how someone else reads it to us.

Written language has provided us with a historic record and a sense of longevity. Because of written language, we can write something today and pass it down to future generations.