Language

Part 1:

• I found this experiment difficult and really frustrating.  I performed the experiment with my boyfriend which might of made the experiment a bit easier than if I had done it with a stranger because we know each other pretty well. There were some gestures I did while trying to communicate with him that he understood immediately. Also, some of the stuff we were trying to communicate were things we spoke about before. So, I definitely think it would of been harder had I performed this experiment with a complete stranger. 
• My partner also got frustrated. He knew about the experiment so he just kept trying but I feel if i would of performed the experiment without him knowing he might of just given up and stayed quiet until I spoke. He definitely changed the way he communicated with my by asking more questions since he realized it was merely impossible for me to begin a conversation. 
• If my partner and I represented two different cultures I believe his culture, the one that uses symbolic language, has the advantage in communicating complex ideas. I could hardly keep a conversation going, let alone communicate complex ideas. The speaking culture might see the non symbolic language culture as abnormal and dumb. Deaf and mute people in our culture encounter these troubles throughout there life. During high school the sign language program held deaf pizza night at a local pizza parlor. Most people there were deaf or mute and I found myself refraining from speaking while there, even though I could've spoken to a few friends there who were able to speak. Also, when I attempted to communicate with some of the deaf people I found myself engaging in simpler conversations, even though they could've probably held more complex conversations. 

Part 2:

• I was able to complete the full 15 minutes but a few times I found myself breaking the rules. For example, I nodded my head or lifted my eyebrows. As much as I tried not to, it still happened. I guess it is because I am so used to it. 
• My partner didn't seem as frustrated as part 1 of the experiment. Though, he did seem pretty bored. My voice was monotone and it made him feel as if I didn't care about our conversation or anything he had to say. 
• Non speech language techniques are extremely important in communicating. It livens up our conversations and helps both partners engage in the conversation. It is possible communicating without these techniques but I believe that without them we wouldn't enjoy communicating as much. 
• Blind people cannot read body language. Being able to read body language enables us to understand the persons we are communicating with more effectively. For example, sometimes it is difficult to tell when people are being sarcastic, but often there body language tells it all. During an extremely hot day it might benefit one to not be able to read body language. At least for me, when I can tell somebody is hot I get hotter myself. Had I not been able to read there body language and realize they were hot, I might of avoided feeling hotter.

Part 3:

• If I had been allowed to use written language in part 1 of the experiment, it would of been much easier. I would of been able to write what I wanted to say and also use body language to fully engage in the conversation. It might of still been frustrating because it takes long having to write things out. Maybe I would have used my computer and typed everything out which would of been much faster. 
• Written language provides everyone within the culture with a tool to communicate. As long as the people learn it they can communicate with other strangers who also know the language. 
• Written language has enabled us to communicate with others globally. With the use of written language people are able to learn it in a country far from the country that speaks it. Also, being able to write in another language enables people from different parts of the world to communicate through the internet. It allows us to spread information to other cultures around the world with ease. If there weren't written languages, in order to communicate with other cultures we would need a translator who is fluent in both languages. But with written language, as long as one person takes the trouble to learn it well and document the meanings of words, others can simply translate one language to another, even if they don't understand the other language completely.