...Critical Thinking and Language Kaitlyn Longstaff COMM/251 April 11, 2014 Shaun Morse Critical Thinking and Language Language is defined as “the landscape of our mind; it is the mountains and forests as well as the cities and roads. It both carries the content and structures the form. We think with it. Language works intimately with all aspects of our thinking” (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007, chpt. 5). Language both influences and is influenced by the critical thinking process and has the power to inspire or inhibit the expression of thoughts. Language is tied to critical thinking in every way, it is the “interpretive medium for the input—the remembering, sorting, creating, judging, and deciding—and language also dramatically shapes those processes” (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007, chpt. 5). Without language, critical thinking would not be possible. Language and language diversity influence critical thinking, which in turn creates persuasion and the ability for language to benefit or inhibit the expression of thoughts. Language and language diversity play a huge role in in the critical thinking process through the universalizing process of language and the structuring power of language. The universalizing process of language is the mind’s ability to critically think about one word and associate it with all things like it. Kirby and Goodpaster use a tree as an example of the universalizing process of language and a panther to show its diversity among different cultures...
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...INTRODUCTION In the text, language and Igbo Philosophy, Fr. Dr. Chukwuelobe .M. explored the deep contribution of language to Igbo critical thinking via a tasking presentation on the phenomenology of Igbo language taking Igbo proverbs on “okwu” as his point of reflection. It shows the originality and pure nature of Igbo philosophy thereby, aborting the false view that Igbo philosophy is philosophizing in western concepts or dressing Igbo philosophy with western garb; Since, language as we know is ‘an experience that a thinker undergoes with the view to uncovering nature. This work is going to critically analyze and evaluate the author’s argument in this essay. TEXT EXPOSITION The author began by affirming the validity of Igbo philosophy when he argued that Igbo philosophy like every other philosophy ‘sets its goal to question the tradition from which it arises and to transcend it through an interpretive and critical activity of the Igbo thinker.’ Tracing the origin of language in the Igbo philosophy, he maintains that our experience with language is something historical because it relates to man who is historical in nature. Consequently, to understand the Igbo and discern what has come to language in his thought requires that a philosophy listens attentively to the sayings of the historical language; which is yet to be known and remains to be seen. He asserts that the Igbo traditional thinking derives essentially from oral transmission, which predates the advent of western...
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...of the basic concepts of deductive and inductive reasoning. Promotes reasoning skills through examining arguments from literature, politics, business, and the media. Enables students to identify common fallacies, to reflect on the use of language for the purpose of persuasion, and to think critically about the sources and biases of the vast quantity of information that confronts us in the "Information Age." INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Required Resources Soomo (2013). Critical Thinking. [Webtext]. Asheville, NC: Soomo Publishing. Note: For each week of the course, all of the following materials in the Preparation and Evaluation portions can be accessed through the Webtext link within Blackboard. The Activities portion (discussion question) will not be located in Webtext, but rather in a separate Blackboard link within your shell. Supplemental Resources Critical Thinking Community. (2013). Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766 Ellerton, P. (2011). Reason to Think. Issues, (95), 33-35. ETS. (2013). Introduction to the Argument Task. Retrieved from http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/ Holyoak, K., & Morrison, R. G. (2005). The Cambridge Handbook of Thinking and Reasoning. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Hughes, W. (2000). Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press. Philosophy...
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...each human possesses. “No two people think alike”, a phrase commonly used to support the differences in human thinking. Nevertheless, the why not’s cannot be explained but are the never-ending source of debate and investigating in the scientific world. Many factors are involved in the process of thinking. Physiological thinking is defined by the physical nature of the brain, one’s intelligence level, sensory input, and is greatly influenced by inhibition of drugs, sleep patterns, poor nutrition. Moreover, the nature of a human’s psychological well being can define the effect of the mental state and emotional state of the individual. Additionally, the memory, as well as the brain is impacted by the chemical nature of the brain. Individuals suffering from low serotonin usually suffer some depressive episodes; indeed, this will ultimately impair how the individual interprets reality and facts. Thinking is defined as the activity of the brain that can potentially be communicated. A human communicates thoughts through language. There is power in expressing language in a metaphorical manner. The manner in which an individual choices to express thoughts includes being informative, explanative, persuasive, and evaluating. Knowing how to indentify which expression to use can prove to be challenging. This will require an individual to explore and expand upon his or her language skills. Most individuals rely significantly from sensory processes, which includes seeing,...
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...child goes through. This process involves learning and mastering skills like sitting, walking, talking, skipping, and tying shoes. Children learn these skills called developmental milestones, during predictable time periods. There are five main areas of development: Cognitive, Socio-emotional, Language, Fine motor skill, and Gross motor skill development. All of these areas correlates to each other. However, the differences of cognitive and language development on a child’s growth is the main focus of this paper. What is Cognitive Development? “Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to...
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...Critical Thinking and Language Essay Benjamin Antillon PHL/251 Dr. Lentz June 23, 2009 Prior to moving to Las Vegas all I would hear is “Las Vegas is hot as hell”. Who really knows how hot hell really is? As far as we know hell could be a comfortable seventy-two degrees and fully stocked with bible thumping Christians vying for my acceptance to Christianity. Who knows but the omnipotent rock star or god or ala (take your pick), whichever one sends the biggest shivers down your spine and lets you spill your guts to redemption. As far as hell goes I’ll let you know when I get there, but as for the Las Vegas heat goes it’s hot, but manageable as a Las Vegas stripper in heat. How does language empower or limit thoughts Language can empower or limit our expressions and thoughts. Metaphors are an implied comparison between an object or an action, but not literal. Metaphors can enrich perception and understanding by bringing clarity and understanding to the language in order to better help others understand your perspectives. Metaphors although can help the clarity of ones thoughts or perspectives, it can also limit ones understanding. Language reveals or demonstrates a particular society, thus a metaphor in one society may have a completely other meaning in another. It is this that can limit the power of metaphors and lead to a translation of murkiness. An example of this is when your telling a story and you are describing a car in your metaphor, your interpretation...
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...Evolution of Tool in Relation to Thinking Capability Zehua (Echo) Wang University of Lethbridge MGT 5120 & MGT 5125 Instructor: Dr. John M. Usher Dec. 12, 2011 People interact with external material world by making use of resources and producing specific products or effect. In this procedure, thinking plays a crucial role in guiding the exact behavior, and tools are the objective medium people make use of. “Tool use” is a signal which distinguishes humanity from animal species. The capability of making and using tool facilitates human’s thinking ability. The more diverse tools are used the more open thinking become. Evolution of tools describes how people’s thinking is changed by tool use, and how thinking becomes increasingly complex and systematic. Tool evolved from tangible tools, for example hammer, rope, bottle, to intangible tools, like academic theories, thinking techniques, and etc. Between these two extreme pole, there are some medium segments exist, such as Internet and other kind of technology. Tools improve productivity, they help people to expand in spaces and gain creativity, but some specific tools might constrain people’s thinking, and become an obstacle which rejects progress of thinking. Purpose of writing this paper is to illustrate how tool produce and too use facilitate people’s thinking, and this process will starts from material-based thinking, and then go into abstract thinking. Considering the historical fact of tool...
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...Development of racial thinking The intrusion of Europe into the orient was spearheaded by the intention to create trading routes to China during the 15th century (Hauner, 2013). This search for trading routes led to various historical accounts. During this search, Hauner (2013) indicates that the Age of Discovery and the introduction of early modern warfare were initiated by the Europeans in the Far East. These activities increased the presence of the activities of European nation in the Asian countries hence leading to colonization of several countries. The European existence in the Asian continent was so immense in that East Timor got its independence from Portugal in the year 2002 (Stevens, 2010). The western nations used the concepts of nation state and multinational state to ensure racial superiority. The nation state was a social construct by the colonizing European colonizing nations in brainwashing the citizens of their colonies (Perry, 2010). The concept does not have a definite definition. However Stevens (2010) indicates that it is the act whereby people are grouped together according to their customs, language, traditions, habits and ethnicity. On the other hand, a multinational state is the concept where people were grouped together in order to form a single geographical orientation however such populations differed in language or ethnicity. These two concepts led to the development of ethnicity among the Asian communities. This is because most people within the...
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...reading skills to the critical thinking of third year high school students The profile of the students on sex, English rating and English language preference were considered. It assessed the students’ reading skills on word recognition through context clues, noting details, getting the main idea, inferring, making generalizations and predicting outcomes. It also evaluated the students’ critical thinking skills, particularly on knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The impact of reading skills to the critical thinking of the students was also analyzed and examined. The results showed that in general, the reading skills of the students are low, with making generalizations as their lowest skill and noting details as their dominant aspect. The students’ critical thinking skills are also low with synthesis as their lowest level and knowledge as their dominant aspect. Male students have lower critical thinking level compared to the females. The females are significantly higher in knowledge level. Students with very good/good English ratings have higher critical thinking level compared to those with fair and poor English ratings. Academic performance in English affects their critical thinking ability. Students who prefer the use of the English language are also higher in their critical thinking levels compared to those who did not prefer to use it. Preference of the English language has an inclination of influencing...
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...conform is important. Integrating a civilian into the military is derived from the Army Mission (Department of the Army, 2009), and is filled with unique training challenges that revolve around the Army Values, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP). These Values have nothing to do with the students past, but represent the present and the future potential of the individual within the Army Culture. Army Instructors are trained to teach within specific parameters that meet their unique standards to accomplish the mission, the primary training method is through Observational Learning (Stanrock, 2009). Knowing that the military is a microcosm of the population military trainers are constantly attending continuing educational training in subjects like Cultural Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Outcome Based Training programs. Through a...
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...Can language be said to hinder thought? What is language? It is a mean of communication. It must involve someone to communicate, and someone to receive the communication. What is thought? It is an idea, result or cause of the process of thinking. (Try to structure your writing as a proper essay, not as a question and answer session.) I think that spoken language is the important focus point, because other type of language are either with the same construction and structure than spoken language, either fully linked to the culture in which their being used. The effects of culture upon thought are obviously present and important no one would discuss it.( I’m not really clear about what you mean here… are you arguing against the Sapir-Whorf position, that what determines our worldview is not so much the language itself but rather the cultural associations that go with it? ) I think that the relationship between thinking (thought) and language is to be seen as a cycle rather than one coming before the other. (Interesting. But you need to demonstrate this, not just take it for granted.) Therefore, any concern in language should have an effect on though. We are used to express our self with language. But can language describe what we mean with perfection? We are limited to our vocabulary and grammatical construction since we do need language to think, in depth at least: whatever you think, there is a word; whatever you conceive there is reason. You must speak it...
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...Heathcote (1970) pinpoints that drama naturally serves thinking, talking, and writing through role-playing and collaborative work. Similarly, Carroll (1980) believes that the act of role-taking in the classroom is central to the creation of discourses that represent students thinking. For Carroll (1988), drama is a creative force that demands a different sort of discourse from both teacher and students. In his study, he used socio-linguistic frameworks and Halliday’s Systemic Linguistics to compare the talks that occur in drama and talk in another classroom. Carroll indicated the differences between drama classrooms and ‘regular classrooms’ to make a point regarding the importance (or appropriateness) of drama work in...
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...Thinking is defined as using thought or rational judgment. The process of using one’s mind to consider or reason about something. Thinking is activity of mind. It is mindful work of your own perception and understanding. The critical thinking process starts out with knowledge. All thinking starts with knowledge, whether a little bit or a good understanding of thinking topic. If you can not comprehend what you are thinking about, you cannot think about it effectively. Most of our thinking’s sensory interactive. Thinking can shape the way we sense. Sending for adults is concurrent with thinking. As we sit in class, drive, cook, or even clean; we are sensing with our eyes, ears, and hands. The two most important senses for thinking are seeing and hearing. Our senses play an important role for our brain. Our senses feed our brain as food. A person’s power to remember things is memory. According to Dictionary.com (2012), “Memory is the mental capacity of faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc. or of recalling or recognizing previous experiences.“ Hidden within our brain is our memory. There are two type of memory. We have short-term memory which we seem to forget entirely and last only about twenty to thirty seconds without rehearsal. Then, we have long-term memory which are the most important for our thinking and last the longest. Without memory there could be no thinking based upon experience. What we think depends both on our ability to remember...
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...Humans have a strong need to classify the world around them, this is influenced by the lack of understanding some people hold of the world and wish to make clearer, mainly through social and cultural issues, in this essay I will delve into these said issues and attempt to bring about an understanding and solidarity to the reasons behind these results for 'the way humans think about the world around them'. Classification is a process that is done universally by all societies and cultures in which people give/find meaning to what they don't understand, although all societies and cultures inhabit this process not all classify the same as the other; most societies exhibit diversity through their cultural influences so the actions of one culture/society may seem strange or irrational to other group, E.g. (Azande) Witchcraft, Evans-Pritchard studied the Azande peoples are their view on society and their culture, he found that they explained various misfortunes though the cause of witchcraft, he saw this as irrational when measured against science; he couldn't see things from their perspectives and had a rose-tinted view when studying the Azande culture, however he failed to recognise the similarities between witchcraft and science; both these are belief systems (Cosmologies) they both have people putting faith in a (witch) doctor. Cultural influences, even though most anthropologists try to give meaning to culture, are only abstract reality conducted though social constructs put...
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...hypothesis, purports that language shapes thoughts; that the language one uses can have an effect on one’s habitual thinking (Boroditsky,2001). In her article “Does language shape thought? Mandarin and English Speakers’ Conception of Time (2001), Boroditsky’s set out to ascertain the influence of language on thinking research. Her study focussed on the aspect of time in English and Mandarin speakers; investigating if the differences in talking about time results in how these two groups of speakers think about time by using an implicit measure of reaction time (RT). She argued that because English speakers typically used horizontal-oriented spatial metaphors such as ‘forward’ or ‘back’ for temporal relations, they might grow to think about time horizontally. Conversely, because Mandarin speakers commonly used vertical terms such as 上 (shang) and 下 (xia), which means ‘up’ and ‘down’ in English; this mapping may also become habits of thoughts. From her experiments, Boroditsky noted that Mandarin speakers relied on a ‘Mandarin’ way of thinking even when responding to English sentences. The subjects’ RT mirrored their perceived habit of thinking about time with Mandarin speakers demonstrating vertical biases even when thinking in English. Her investigations also suggested that earlier exposure to English decreases this semantic biases. Finally, her findings with English speakers briefly trained in vertical spatiotemporal metaphors indicated that it was language and not cultural differences...
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