English Language - Going Beyond Literacy to Total Mastery

Language is the expression or communication ofAs for Helen Keller, her limited world, became
thoughts and feelings by means of vocal sounds,great with great gain of language: "It would have
and combinations of such sounds, to whichbeen difficult to find a happier child than I was as I
meaning is attributed to human speech (Webster'slay in my crib at the close of that eventful day
Dictionary 1999). Language is significantly made upand lived over the joys it had brought me, and
of culture, success, and free will.for the first time longed for a new day to come"
Language can embark upon the hidden talents of(Helen Keller).
what all great writers have today: clarity,Furthermore, a person may become genuinely
conciseness, and communication.frustrated with language, as in the story Malcolm
Many people are deprived of things such asX: "I became increasingly frustrated at not being
attention, the forgiveness of another person, andable to express what I wanted to convey in
the ability to speak a language fluently. Whatletters that I wrote" (Malcolm X).
several people forget is that certain experiencesDetermination can cause any person to choose to
can lead to a deprived language outcome. Tochange and become a better writer: "I saw that
have been deprived of language, is like walkingthe best-thing I could do was get hold of a
blind folded to hit a pinata. The target is there butdictionary--to study, to learn some words"
one is not sure where it is located.(Malcolm X).
Any person's walk of life may have experiencedLittle do people know that it's often the unseen
sudden deprivation of language, or no languageareas, such as not knowing words and taking the
training at all. In the story Malcolm X we read:time as Malcolm X did, that will make the biggest
"Coming to an awareness of language, I handlanguage progress in the near future. There is no
scratched to them how the white man's societysuch thing as a non-victorious study time, when it
was responsible for the black man's condition incomes to learning the printed word.
this wilderness of North America" (Malcolm X).Consequently, my experiences in my early college
Often, a person's language barrier can becareer, led me to become determined to finish
predicted through their culture.my coursework. My experiences of getting an A-
Similarly, if a person has a handicap, one mayon writing assignments only prompted me more
have to conclude that this person may have toto persevere and finish. My sense of hope in
work overtime to draw good success in language.wanting to complete my journey in school and life
Let us think of Helen Keller: "The day languagestill exists.
came into my life, the living word awakened myAs Malcolm X states eloquently: "It went a lot
soul, gave it light, hope, and joy set it free!" (Helenfaster after so much practice helped me pick up
Keller).handwriting, etc." (Malcolm X). I can certainly
For one to experience language, quite frankly, aattest to that fact as well in my own life.
person must work to obtain mastery of it. ForThrough continuous writing practice I have
Helen Keller, her experience set her free andbecome a better writer. I am, as a precursor to
gave her a sensation of finally knowing thethat, enjoying writing a lot more, during these
unknown in her life.collegiate days, versus past years.
Fear can rob any person of the unknown. ForIncreased language awareness and skills highly
example, to have experienced fear recently onaffected the thought processes of the writers.
what to write about may develop a lack of freeThey became more confident, and one can just
will to try to write at all. Language awareness issense that beyond confidence, there is also a bit
very important, because one can develop theirof joy welling up in them as well. It's almost
sense of writing skills through writing and reading.tangible. The role that language played in the
"Language is the highest and most amazingwriter's lives was a monumental one.
achievement of the symbolic tic human mind"If we consider that these are major players in
(Susan K. Langer). A human mind is like a token.our society... we start to think, perhaps regular
What one does not use may be lost. The free willcitizens could become large icons in America, if
to choose language may actually become athey will work toward mastery of language.
barrier of choice.Malcolm X, who would have thought? One would
In order to communicate properly, one musthave never expected that he had any language
practice language skills: speaking, reading, anddeficiency, because he led millions to his call to
writing in that language for mastery. Then, andaction.
only then, will language skills begin to feel natural,The improved use of language has improved my
flow wonderful, and become a natural part of thelife because I have marked improvement in
person's daily existence.schoolwork, tests, and book reports. I hate to
Many lives have changed because of an increasethink what my life would be like without language
in vocabulary and writing skills. Whether it isskills. I think sometimes as humans, we all need to
through a job, or even a classification, language isbe reminded whether young or old, not to be
a complete increase toward accomplishment inlazy, but to press on to mastery of our given
one's life. It is also an incredible self-esteemlanguage.
booster for those that lack motivation in life.