Language is often taken for granted as the concept that is inherently connected to one’s identity. However, the ability to speak the language, as well as expand one’s linguistic skills, is a truly amazing skill that does not seem to be celebrated enough.
Knowing the basic vocabulary is not enough to have enough language power; those that are truly powerful in their linguistic skills are capable of understanding others on an intuitive level and being articulate enough so that everybody else could understand them. Thus, exploring the concept of language power is essential due to the opportunities for improved communication that it opens. Since the development of language power implies overcoming cultural and occupational barriers, the adoption of innovative tools for the promotion of language power across the global community is needed.
Increasing language power is critical both to the effective management of the needs of an individual and the promotion of well-being within the global community. Defined as the “ability to convey meanings of various kinds,” language power needs to be taught as the primary method of effective communication (Barber & Stainton, 2010, p. 217). Thus, the issues emerging in cross-cultural conversations will be addressed respectively.
In order to understand the concept of language power better, one may need to consult the language power theory. The theory in question reflects upon the nature of the communicational ability and the means of increasing it (Fatemi, 2018). In the context of the language power theory, it is imperative to learn to listen in order to understand and develop the speaking skills needed to be understood (Odrowąż-Coates, 2019). Thus, the language power theory posits that the ultimate goal of increasing language power is to create an environment in which the immediate understanding of an interlocutor’s message becomes possible.
The importance of language power has grown impressively large since the development of opportunities for global communication. Due to the differences associated with culture, location, and other characteristics that may skew one’s perspective on learning to speak a particular language, communicating with the representatives of different cultures and, therefore, those speaking a foreign language may become incredibly difficult. However, with the adoption of the language theory principles, the process of learning a language becomes simplified to two critical tasks, which are to understand the speaker and to ensure that the speaker understands the message (Jones & Lewis, 2018). Therefore, the inclusion of the language theory into everyday cross-cultural communication is essential.
The assessment of the power of language is also incredibly helpful in preventing cases that involve misunderstanding a specific message or misconstruing its meaning. The specified situation is especially prevalent in the settings with the languages that have a substantial number of similarities in their pronunciation yet stand quite far apart from each other in terms of their vocabulary (Jones & Lewis, 2018). In this case, having enough power of language will facilitate a positive communicational experience and prevent participants from misconstruing each other’s messages.
Due to the opportunity to overcome occupational and cultural barriers, the power of language should be seen as the crucial tool in building premises for cross-cultural communication in the global setting. Thus, the enhancement of the power of language within the global community, as well as on multiple local levels, has to be interpreted as a priority. The introduction of the power of language on the institutional level will allow ethnic minorities to have equal opportunities in communicating and gaining knowledge. Thus, helping people to train the ability to understand and be understood is critical for the further pursuit of intercultural dialogue on every level of international communication.
References
Barber, A., & Stainton, R. J. (Eds.). (2010). Concise encyclopedia of philosophy of language and linguistics. New York, NY: Elsevier.
Fatemi, S. M. (2018). The psychological power of language. New York, NY: Routledge.
Jones, R., & Lewis, H. (2018). New geographies of Language. Palgrave studies in minority languages and communities. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Odrowąż-Coates, A. (2019). Socio-educational factors and the soft power of language: The deluge of English in Poland and Portugal. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.