Learning Journal #1

[Jeffrey Choi]

The readings revealed to me how much more there is in the process of learning a new language. It also made me appreciate how learning different languages can make me less ignorant and understand that if we restrict our view to just one language, we will never truly understand the difference between sense and reference. The articles clarified how I cannot simply learn the meaning of a word. I must understand that the interaction between words and sentences is what conveys the meaning. Words by themselves cannot truly make sense since a word can have multiple meanings behind it. For example, the word table can either mean the furniture, or the graph in a textbook.  I learned how complex the neurological planning and execution process was in saying a simple dialogue. For example, when producing speech, an initial intention to communicate is followed by some conceptualization of the message. While this is happening, the brain is constantly self-monitoring itself and providing feedback from different senses. Overall, the readings made me aware that learning a language is not a simple procedure.