Language arts is the study of expression. Having knowledge in history, math, and science is one thing, but being able to explain it is another. Now, because of the growth in knowledge, there is increasing specialization. Because of this, there needs to be more people proficient in explanation to bridge the knowledge gap between specialties. Using the right words in the right place is the core of language arts; this, when applied to oratory or literature, is a powerful tool that has been used to sway entire populations.
One of language art's strengths is the ability to paint a picture of a situation. Literature does a good job of this, creating an alternate reality that a reader can visualize. This is essential especially in history, when it is impossible to truly understand the world at a certain time period without being immersed in it. Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby teaches me about the Roaring 20s as much as my APUSH textbook does. As well as being enjoyable, literature can introduce topics in a well-flowed manner that typical readers can comprehend and internalize.
The Internet culture is full of people who are busy, checking blogs during their lunch break or multitasking, posting, surfing, and listening to music at the same time. The language we use indicates our rushed, terse way of life. While it is readable to us, it is a foreign language to those still in the pre-Internet age. This divergence between liberal Internet users and conservative traditionalists will be one of the greatest divisions in our modern society. And all along the way, the differences between the language we use will illustrate the parting.
Even fiction novels have significance. An author does not live in a vacuum-- his writing reflects the views and attitudes at the time it was written. His novel's popularity indicates how controversial its themes are or how well the people connect with it at the time. Its topics show what is on people's minds at the time. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, although it was fictional, reflected the anti-slavery mindset of Northerners in the Antebellum. It served to unify them and eventually swayed the nation to confront slavery. Even fiction writing, used as a didactic vehicle to convey greater ideas, can be used to sway readers' opinions.
By studying language arts, you study expression of meaning and explanation. This subject defines the border between book and street smarts; the three others, science, math and history are useful only when they can be communicated effectively to others. By studying writing and applying the themes, ideas, and concepts to oratory and your own prose, you can develop this skill and look better in the eyes of others.
2 comments:
It is important that people can communicate with each other; that being said, there remain objections to the amount of study of the English language and literature that is present in schools today. Frst: yu cn unrstnd ths sntnce prfctly well evn thogh it dsnt hve mny real wrds in it. The English language has a ton of redundancy (I forget the actual amount), and so as far as communicating information there is no good reason to be tethered to our current system. But second, and I think more importantly: English isn't well equipped to handle math, science, or technical and rigorous statements in general. Yes, it is important that science majors know English well enough to understand what liberal arts majors are saying (which, by the way, most of us would have without classes upon classes of literary criticism); but by the same token, is it not important for History majors to learn computer programming and rigorous systems of logic? Math and science majors have to learn an absurd amount of history and literary criticism (come up with one good reason why I'll need to know about all the history I do), not just how to speak English.
Yes, it's vital that people can communicate; but our history and English curriculum goes way beyond this.
I agree. All my classes teach me a lot of useless information just for teaching's sake. There's stuff I'll never use again, except in college or other classes.
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