Are some languages more or less difficult to learn than other languages?

We suggested language is a key way of knowing. In our english class we have been discussing language and we came across some interesting questions that were connected with our class discussions about language. We looked at the various difficulties in some languages.

Yes some languages are more difficult to learn than other languages, although it does depend on your background. For example, if you were from the United Kingdom, you would find it harder to learn tonal languages from South East Asia, such as but not limited to: Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean.

Furthermore we have concluded that languages are easier to ‘pick-up’ and learn when you are younger. For instance, a four year old may pick up Spanish faster than an eighteen year old. This is may be due to the fact that four year olds have significantly less knowledge of grammar and other languages to confuse them. While an eighteen year old may find it hard to let go of some concepts/rules from other languages.  On the other hand some people may find it easier to learn languages that are similar. If you are a Spanish person you may find it easier to understand and interpret Portuguese for example.

However, it may also make learning the language harder. In addition, the similarity between the languages can lead to many mixing up of the two languages like switching words and rules around.

Language and learning

In class some of my peers suggested that the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - “language determines our experience of reality and we can see and think only what our language allows us to see and think. Some people argued that in some cases it is not very easy to study a subject without language like maths. Without all the technical terms and equations we would not be able to do anything very complex with language. 

I found this debate very intriguing. I felt that we are able to think without language. For example, when we want to say something but we feel like we do not have the right words to put your idea out. So you have to change your idea a little to fit in with your vocabulary. It suggested that sometimes language can be a hindrance in learning some things, while on the other hand it can be beneficial; when learning the natural sciences especially.

Another argument against this is that animals can learn things without animals. A speaker on a Ted talks we watched suggested that animals have a form of communication, although they can communicate they do not use a language. This is where the differentiation between humans and animals is shown. Animals are said to lack social learning - a form of visual theft - where one can benefit from other's work. Benefit from others knowledge.  An example of this when we see a hunter use a gun to hunt, while watching the hunter we can learn a few things from him, like how to pick a target to hunt. On the other hand, chimpanzees are incapable of doing this. Although they know how to use sticks to dig up termites, if they used social learning they would have been able to create a shovel which would be more efficient. 


Language allows cooperation, this allows us as humans to surpass the other animals. We could transform the environment to suit our needs while animals could not. Overall, I feel like language is very useful to learning, although we can learn without it. I feel that language is key to understanding some complex ideas, while others simply require copying. I feel as humans have evolved, we have the luxury to pick the most efficient way of learning. Like in chemistry the best way is to learn with the language. While sports are easier learnt by mimicking/copying movements.

Lagemaat, Richard Van De. Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2005. Print.

Is language key to understanding Chemistry?

While exploring more about the ways of knowledge in TOK class, my partner and I came to a suggestion that language can be a key aspect in understanding and gaining knowledge. Without language it is quite challenging to gain knowledge. In class some people did oppose this by saying that copying someone is a way of gaining knowledge without any language. Although I feel that language is essential in gaining knowledge.

A strong example where language is a necessity is chemistry. The language of chemistry (the equations, units and symbols) is an integral part of chemistry. Without having any knowledge in the language of chemistry, one cannot simply understand much.  An example of this was given in the book; many scientists used to misunderstand the concept of equilibrium. The older ideas focused on a 50:50 balance between reactants and products. The scientists did not understand that equilibrium means that the experiment was not favoring either side or that nothing was reacting. Equilibrium meant that both the forward and backward reactions were occurring at the same rate, therefore the backward or forward was not favored due to this.

In addition to the vast skepticism of the religious leaders in the past, chemistry was misunderstood. This lead to a great number of falsifications in theories even improvements in laws and theory. For example, the first periodic table by Dimitri Mendeleev arranged the chemical elements by atomic mass. He was not very accurate, but this was due to lack of advances in technology or prior research.

 It was improved upon greatly by other scientists in the 20^th century, like James Chadwick and Glenn Seaborg. These advances can be credited to the greater understanding of the language of chemistry. This allowed for more precision in research and communication. For example, scientists could communicate with each other much more efficiently than before. For example, describing the observations of an experiment – where people can use technical terms such as effervescence instead of bubbling and acid instead of just liquids.

Overall, I strongly feel language is one of the key ways of knowing, used to gain and understand knowledge. I also feel like this creation of language helped the world advance, in terms of science and technology. It helped in better communication. Although I feel like a bit of the individuality and creativity of some are suppressed a bit due to conforming to social norms and using the language – with all of its rules and guidelines.

I used some this book to get more information.

Bylikin, Sergey, Gary Horner, and Brian Murphy. Chemistry: Oxford IB Diploma Programme. 2014 ed. 2014. Print.

Do we use more than one W.O.K (Ways of Knowing) to make decisions?

In my Theory of Knowledge class we have been discussing about the ways of knowing. We discussed how intuition and reason worked in an alliance. For example, sometimes we answer questions rapidly without much thought. That is intuition. On the other hand, when we carefully asses a situation and make a decision carefully – that is reasoning. On occasions our intuition maybe right and reasoning also fits in with it. Other times our intuition is wrong and reasons show us the mistake. Also I feel like emotion is also a huge factor in both ways of knowing. I have been watching the series Suits where I feel the character Mike Ross is faced with many tough decisions in the fifth season.  He practises law without having a law degree. He falls in love with a paralegal working in the same firm and they are forced to make decision after he asked her to marry him. This made me realise that emotion can have a huge impact on our decision making.

In addition, Mike Ross knows the right thing to do is to quit his high paying job at his law firm and refuse to marry Rachel (paralegal). Mike’s rushed answer to all his problems is to not tell anyone and stay at the firm. His intuitive answer is to stay and pretend like nothing is wrong. The rushed emotional decision he comes to is to continue working. The secondary characters in the show all point Mike towards reasoning. However him emotions were stronger than his reasoning.

He decided to continue working. With the immense pressure coming from Rachel and her parents (from the wedding planning) Mike turns to his faith to comfort him. Sometimes our intuition is right and reason agrees with it. With the help of his pastor and a strong emotional confession; Mike decides to leave his job.

This showed me that some times more than one way of knowing is needed for a person to know when/what decision to make in life. For example Mike Ross used his intuition, reasoning and faith to help him make his decision.

Image taken from: http://cartermatt.com/177425/suits-season-5-episode-11-spoilers-will-we-learn-the-truth-behind-mike-ross-shocker/