Each week a global thinker from the worlds of philosophy, science, psychology or the arts is given a minute to put forward a radical, inspiring or controversial idea – no matter how improbable – that they believe would change the world.
“I think that language is overrated; some people even claim that you cannot think without language.
If you look at the political debates we pay an enormous amounts of attention to non-verbal communication. In fact, around 75% of our decisions are based on that.
And so I would want a day when we go without symbolic language.
On such a day, we may still sigh and scream and laugh, and do all kinds of other non-verbal things we need to express ourselves without language.
Without language we can still tell people that we like them or hate them or they are our rivals, for instance.
I think this would reduce the amount of backstabbing and nastiness that goes on because if you want to express a rivalry you would have to do that to their face.”
You can listen to Fran discuss his idea with former Canadian politician Michael Ignatieff and Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig in more detail on the BBC World Service programme The Forum, where you can also download more 60-second ideas.
Do you support the experiment? Can you not speak the whole day? Is language important for communication? Can you express your feelings only by emotions? Do you like this article? The article seemed to me unusual and interesting. As a person who studies language and constantly practicing its pronunciation, I just can not imagine how I can not speak the whole day)
Communication is an essential part of morden society. Of course, we can communicate with each other using hands, gestures etc. But imagine how difficult it will be! Moreover, you will waste more time 4 explanations & expressions. In a word, going without symbolic language is an absolute regression in our developed, mobile world.
I think this article is not strange!!! It is about an interesting fact that person can communicate without speaking. I agree that it isn't easy to be silent during the day. Although communication with gestures is unusual method!!!
Hm...This article is strange a little.I don't know how people can understand each other without speaking.As for me I can't comunicate with people only with using my gestures...
It is about an interesting fact that person can communicate without speaking. I agree that it isn't easy to be silent during the day. Although communication with gestures is unusual method!!! 