Compare and contrast how language is used in two different areas of knowing.
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Athavan Balendran
12/17/2012 12:19:34 am
Language is an important tool for society to use as a medium of communication. In IB there are 6 ways of knowing that are mathematics, natural sciences, human sciences, history, the arts, and ethics. I will be comparing and contrasting the language use between mathematics and natural sciences. First of all Mathematics is like its own language, but it is a universal language. If two people of very different backgrounds look at a math problem and both of them have taken classes of math in their respective languages, they can still attempt to solve the problem together. However with mathematics, everything comes down to 1+1=2. Who are we to say that 1+1 does not equal 2? If 1+1 did not equal 2, then every formula ever created, and the entire structure of mathematics as we know it could not exist. Therefore, although mathematics is a universal language, it is essentially an upside down pyramid where if the lowest brick ere to fall, the entire thing would collapse. Math itself allows people, who use the structure that we know, to communicate and apply day to day problems. Whether it be applying math in a physics equation or using math to build a car, if 2 very different people use the same structure (again the structure based off of 1+1) then they should essentially be able to find a solution given that they understand the structure well enough. This makes the communication of math so simple as it is such an easy language to begin to understand and communicate. Natural sciences on the other hand are much different. Many theories of natural science do not have to relate to one another. If the universe was not created by the big bang, it does not mean that we are not made up of cells. For science there are many bases and many interpretations. This makes it much harder to communicate. While math has only one known and used structure, science has many different structures as there are many different opinions pertaining to certain theories. Whist something maybe true in one structure, it will not be in the other. Thus in science nothing can be proved and we only have theories, because there is no way of knowing. Whilst in math we can prove something using our structure because it related to the original part of the structure. For example if 1+1 =2 then 2+2 must equal 4. No one would dare to dispute that statement I have just made as it is already “known and proven”. In science there are so many different possibilities even in the same structures that it is impossible to prove anything. Therefore Math is easier to communicate, but harder to disprove, whilst natural sciences are harder to communicate, but easier to disprove.
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Anna Pearson
2/9/2013 12:35:08 am
Language and Areas of Knowing
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Thiago Gatto
2/19/2013 01:29:01 am
The good thing about language is that is a very flexible tool, meaning that it can be used for several purposes and meaning that can be used in very different ways. For example, in the areas of mathematics, one expects the language used to be very direct and as simple as possible, because what mathematics primarily aims is to get t the point as quick as possible, an answer. This way, mathmaticians will use the language of mathematics, majorly with sings and symbols, to try to reach a conclusion of problem related with anything in the areas of mathematics as quickly and directly as possible. That's why our math teachers our ask us to simplify as maximum as possible the answer of a question; because the aim of math is to be direct and precise. Differently from math,when we use language in human sciences, like literature, there is another aim. The aim of literature is simply to express oneself in the manner that suits the person. A poem for example, doesn't aim for a quick and direct solution. A writer writes a poem with the intention of provoking reflection and evoking emotions on the readers. Finally, we can see with these example that language can have very distinct purposes depending on the area of knowing.
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Mari Teixeira
2/19/2013 03:17:13 am
Language is a very flexible tool that people all over the world used differently for communication. This tool; however, is used differently in each Area of Knowledge. The areas of knowledge that I choose to address and compare were Art and English. I choose these two areas of knowledge because they are so opposing to each other. On one hand art uses the language of images and icons to communicate the message desired and there are no limitations to it. The author is allowed to use language in whatever form he or she wishes to. Opposing to that, English uses the english language and all its requirements in form of communication. That is so different than art because the english language must follow some rules of structure, verbs, form, grammar and so much more. Although both forms of language are valid because they are both effective ways of communicating with the audience, art provides the author with a larger variety of options, while writers are expected to follow rules and have to be much more specific to be able to convey the message they wish to. Another major difference between Art and English is that in art the audience takes great part in participating on the interpretation of the piece, while in English the interpretation is almost predetermined. Both ways of communication allow the audience to take in the message as they wish; however, art allows the author to be as vague as he wishes, while in english the author has to state his message clearly.
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