Did you know that there are around 7000 languages spoken in the world? Though each language is unique, with different words and ways of forming sentences, one thing they have in common is their purpose. Languages connect people, allow them to express their emotions and share their ideas.     

    Language is a system made up of sounds and symbols. These are combined to form words, with meanings that determine how they’re used. It’s the medium through which we communicate with one another in society, whether that’s written or spoken communication. The human mind is able to translate the collection of different sounds in a sentence and understand what that means. This has allowed people to build communities, discussing and sharing their thoughts and ideas with people in their local area or across the globe. Language is fundamental to the functioning of society and the ever-developing world.

    Languages are not just a part of the expression of personal ideas, but also of one’s culture. Often, languages are associated with the culture of certain countries or regions. As well as this, the same language may be spoken in different parts of the world but have different pronunciations and spelling of certain words, as well as varying vocabulary - this can also play a role in culture. For example, the language Tamil is spoken primarily in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, as well as other countries around the world. The Indian dialect and Sri Lankan dialect of Tamil vary quite largely with vocabulary.

    When discussing the benefits of learning other languages with A Level French student Gursharon Johal, she touched on how “it’s a great way for people to be exposed to different cultures as well as looking at the languages themselves. You get to learn about different beliefs and traditions held within various global societies, which provides you with different perspectives on life and the ability to respect and understand other people.”

    More than just expression and communication, language has neurological benefits. The effects of bilingualism include improved memory and visual-spatial skills, and advantages with learning. In relation to the mind, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity, proposes that our perception of the world is influenced by the language we speak - language shapes our thoughts. It can impact the way we see different situations. For example, speakers of the Inuit language have several words to describe snow in varying situations, which will provide a more detailed and precise description of the landscape, whilst in English there is a limited range of words regarding snow and ice.

    Acting as a link between people from all over the world, language is a tool we use in our everyday lives which shapes how we express ourselves and our perception of everyday situations.