In the book titled "The Games People Play" by Dr. Eric Berne, he outlines transactional analysis theory. In its most simplified terms this theory describes how ideas and concepts about the world around us and how we respond to it are developed through childhood, our parents, and our adult selves. I would like to describe this theory a little bit more as I understand it. According to this theory most or all of our concepts of self and identity in relation to concepts in the world around us are set from birth until 5 years of age. Everything after this is a reinforcement of those ideas and a further development of those already placed. As we grow into ourselves over the years, we have three entities that are within us. There is the parent who teaches concepts to the child. Often times the child does not always understand or know the "why?" of each concept or lesson but none the less the lessons are internalized and accepted as truth and reality. The child is the part of the person with the emotional responses to the adult or its external environment. The adult of the person is one that has developed a learned concept. At this point in adulthood, or as the person enters into adulthood, the concepts of this person are developed enough that they are somewhat set in stone. The theory is called transactional analysis because the theory describes in great detail how the three entities make transactions among each other.
At the start of life the adult is a small child. Adult data gathers out of the child: his ability to understand what is different than what he/she observes (parent) or feels (child). Another way to understand this is the adult allows the young person to evaluate and validate the child and parental data. The adult is the decision maker after it computes information from the parent, the child, and the information gathered.
In chapter 7 of "Language the Social mirror" by Chaika she discusses how children learn langauge. Language is something that can be mutually understood by the speakers so that they communicate. Dialects and language are closely related. Dialect is a division of a language that shares basic qualities of the language it is derived from but differs slightly with accents or different meanings to words. Chaika discusses how children learn a language briefly. The develop their vocabulary by listening to their parents and testing out different words and ways of using the words. Eventually children will speak the dialect of the language from which they are surrounded by. As adults it, and as the child ages, it is incredibly difficult to learn new languages or master other dialects. The reasons for this is not certain. However some communication specialist theorize that it is easier for a child to learn a language than an adult to learn a language because they are more enthusiastic and willing to do so. Others say that the reason is the language is ingrained in the adult and they have learned their ways and the mind is unwilling to fully embrace the new language.
In this blog I wanted to speak a bit the later idea of why it is difficult for an adult to fully master a language using the transitional analysis theory. As I understand it, just like the concepts, morals, and understandings we develop from childhood from our parents (the parent entity), we also gain the language from them. It is a concept deeply ingrained in us just as any other moral lesson or value our parents create in us. In this way it is very challenging to change our minds and accept another language with as much strength as the first was. I do not believe that difficulties in learning a new language rests entirely on the inability to open one's mind to new truths or concepts but I do feel it has a large impact on one's ability to do so. I believe that a large amount of it is the fact that our minds have difficulty allowing new agreements in or new concepts that do not line up with the ones taught to us when we were young children.
This is an unconscious in us: all of the patterns from our language and mannerism of it were developed and continually refashioned according to our childhood.
What are some ways that your language and dialect reflect your childhood or parents?
Wow, very interesting Viviana! I agree with you, that it is hard to break our patterns from childhood to take on a new language. I, for one, can say I reflect a lot of my parents in the way I speak and my dialect. I have the same mannerisms as my dad, and I have recently noticed how I speak with the same inflections that he does. It is an unconscious state of mind, but it is nonetheless there. I have tried to learn another language, and it is very hard. It is hard to grasp the dialect and, like you said, open your mind to new truths and concepts. Our childhood definitely has a great impact on the way we speak. The only way to get around this, I believe, is if you are cultured at a very young age.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post with some interesting insight. "As I understand it, just like the concepts, morals, and understandings we develop from childhood from our parents (the parent entity), we also gain the language from them"-- I believe this to be a very true statement. Although I am constantly surrounded with diversity at work and school, I still carry my parents' "language use" and mannerisms with me. It's almost innate, I don't even know I am doing it. If I interact with anyone that knows my parents, I always hear, "You are so your mother's daughter", or-- "You tell stories just like your father". I definitely agree that it is difficult to break bridges and patters to take on a "new" language; what we learn as children greatly impacts our adult language.
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