THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN COMMUNICATING THOUGHT: TOWARDS A BALANCED EDUCATION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Learning, via the instrumentality of language, is the essence of education. Education itself is the bedrock of development which anchors nonetheless on human development. The global structure of the contemporary world fraught with multiplicity of languages makes learning stagnant in which case, limited education makes holistic human development virtually a mirage. Thus, the global community makes individuals isolated in mind and expression, more or less positioned in an imbalanced state. This crisis spirals around human interaction with the environment which anchors on the ability to understand, interpret and relate to the environment in most objective way. That is to say, to the extent of clarity of man’s understanding and lucid interpretation, that evokes suitable relation to the positive demands of his environment. Being pivotal in human relation, language becomes of necessity, the instrument of education, where the positive development expected from education depends on the proper use and ability to speak many languages. Such diverse language exposure brings cultures close for human development. This work applies conceptual analytic method in unveiling the target of language both in understanding and learning, where meaning becomes an aid; aid in terms of proper thought representation and communication in the task of education for human development.