Language is both non-biological and biological. Things like words, grammar, senses, and references are man-made, hence the differences between languages. At the same time, language is impossible without the biological functions of the brain. As explained in Crystal’s “How the Brain Handles Language”, different parts of the brain work together to enable humans to effectively communicate through language. For example, people with damage to the Wernicke’s area, the area of the brain that plays a large role in language comprehension, are unable to understand language and may speak in sentences that have no meaning and consist of made-up words. This language disorder is called Wernicke’s aphasia. The Broca’s area is the part of the brain most important for the production of speech. A person with Broca’s aphasia has an impairment in which they cannot produce normal speech.
I think one way we conceptualize or process meaning is based on the context in which words are used. For example, one of the texts talked about how the word “mean” has so many meanings because it can be used in a variety of ways. But knowing the context in which it is used based on its relationship with other words can distinguish the senses and help us process the meaning of the word.
Learning how people neurologically handle language is motivating because it shows how capable our brains are of processing and learning new languages. By continually practicing Korean, I believe that I’ll be able to strengthen the neural pathways in my brain so that I’ll be able to retain and recollect new language information to advance my Korean skills.
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