I found both readings engaging, though certain sections left me slightly confused, particularly the reading on how the brain handles language. The basic concept was clear enough: distinct brain regions handle different linguistic functions, with Wernicke's and Broca's areas being used for comprehension and speech production. However it was harder for me to picture how all of these processes actually work together in real time during an actual conversation. This made me wonder why identical language acquisition techniques have dramatically different results across learners, even though everyone theoretically engages the same areas of the brain.
The reading on meaning made me think more about how we understand words past their definitions. I understood sense as the meaning of a word within the language system itself, with reference connecting the word to something tangible or real. That helped explain how a word can stay the same but take on different meanings depending on context, which in turn helped me see why just memorizing vocabulary isn’t always enough when learning a new language.
These readings ultimately convinced me that language operates beyond pure biology. Our brain provides the foundational capacity for language processing, but actual experience and environmental exposure determines how meaning is understood and retained over time. Moving forward, I'm going to prioritize contextual learning and practical application over isolated definition learning. That said, I'm still working through and would like to learn more about how these different components connect and which approaches actually optimize language learning.
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