Critical Thinking & Persuasion

Language is a major part of human society. It plays an extremely crucial role in the critical thinking process. Language is the pathway for communicating between people. Language lets people express themselves to others. People, for instance, express their feelings, thoughts, wants, and/or needs through language. Ultimately, language is the pathway for expression. Without language, people could not get anything accomplished. People need each other to survive. People have to interact with some type of language to get what they want or need.

The diversity of language is tremendous. There are a numerous amounts of ways language is diverse. For example, there are many different languages spoken amongst humans. There are even languages, such as sign language, that are used that do not require talking.

Language is not only diverse because of the verbal and non verbal communication. Because of the depth of the English language, choosing the right words play a major part in the critical thinking process. Language is also diverse by how things are said. In the English language, one word could have many different meanings. How a person says something can have more of an effect on the critical thinking process than what is actually said.

Language can empower or limit the expression of our thoughts. Choosing the right or wrong words is an example of the empowerment and limitations of language. For example, if someone is speaking negative, then that person will more than likely receive negative feedback. The same goes for someone that is speaking positive. There are times when this statement is not true. Sometimes positive output will receive negative feedback and vice versa.

Language can empower the expression of our thoughts in many ways. For instance, a dancer can tell a powerful story through body language. A writer or an artist can touch the hearts of many people without even speaking a word. A singer can make you feel like a song was meant just for you with his or her voice. Language can empower verbally and non-verbally. By being able to find the right words, movement, and/or picture can be empowering for both the sender and receiver of the language.

Knowing how you feel but not being able to find the words to express your feelings is an example of the limitations of language. Other limits of language involve understanding. If people do not understanding what you are saying or trying to say then your thoughts become limited. It is as if you are talking to a deaf person that cannot read lips well. Without language and the understanding of language, we are very limited with what we can say and how we can express ourselves.

Critical thinking is required in persuasion. It plays a role in persuasion because of the components of the critical thinking process are needed to effectively persuade an audience. Research, facts, logic, and language are all needed to persuade an audience. You have to research your topic to understand what you are talking about. Researching your topic is also needed to gain facts about your topic. Facts are required to support your topic and your view on the topic. Logic is needed because if your view is not logical, you will automatically lose your audience. Finally, language is the key to persuasion.

Language is the key because it is required to reach the audience. Without language, the audience will not have a clue about what you are saying. You have to have the right words, tone of voice, and body language to keep the audience's attention. These three things are also needed to win your audience over. Choosing the right words for your particular audience you are persuading, will help the audience understand what you are talking about. The tone of voice you use as you speak also play a major role. Your tone of voice plays a major role because you have to come across to your audience the right way. If you come across your audience too strong or to weak, you will lose your audience because they will probably just stop listening to you. This could make you or break you in persuasion. Lastly, the body language you use has to be appropriate for the audience and the topic you are speaking on. If you are trying to persuade a group of kids, you can adjust the way you present yourself because of the type of audience you are speaking to.

Language plays a major role in life. What you say and how say things are the two crucial things when it comes to expressing your thoughts. If nobody could ever express their thoughts, we would not be where we are today. People would probably be still living in caves without fire.

If nobody could ever express their thoughts, we would not be where we are today. People would probably be still living in caves without fire.