GRADE: A-

As humans learn and master language they become more able to think and reason in highly specific ways. With the acquisition of more vocabulary one gains yet another median to express himself. As a child may say "I am really really hungry," an adult may express the same level of hunger by saying "I am famished."

In Bronowski's third lecture in the series "The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination" he elaborates on the meanings behind symbols. Symbols in mathematics, chemistry, and even the auditory/written symbol of the word. As a student of Spanish I am constantly under strain to express myself without reverting back to the more familiar English. I have often asked myself , why is this so difficult?

Until recently I had just assumed it was because I was just "bad" at Spanish, but now I have taken a new view on things. Maybe the difficulty of learning Spanish may be a result of how well I speak in English. Due to the fact that I think in English, I am trying to "translate" my thoughts into Spanish. This is an impossible task, for the most part, because the words and phrases I use when in thought are at a level far beyond my Spanish vocabulary. So in order for me to properly speak and write in Spanish I would need to temporarily forget English and work

with what Spanish tools I have been provided. This task forces one to become more creative in expressing themselves.

Bronowski also discusses the amazing, human ability to internalize thoughts and speech.

The whole process of thinking and reasoning is greatly attributed to this unique human ability.

According to Bronowski animals can address other animals in the form of a "danger" cry, but animals lack the ability to address themselves in thought.

As mentioned earlier, a reoccurring problem with my learning of a new language was that I would constantly want to revert back to English. The reason for such a problem stemmed from the internalized thought and from English to Spanish (or rather the attempt to translate.) Had I attempted to think in terms of what I knew in Spanish then the transition from thought to word would be much less difficult. The only remaining obstacles would be how to use what limited vocabulary I have acquired.

Throughout this diatribe I have related a "problem" which is merely an obstacle. Every human being who is faced with the task of learning a new language, or school of thought feels an urge to return to what is comfortable; just as a child yearns for the comforts of his own bed when at summer camp. So by using what I have discovered on my own and what I have learned, the mastery of a new language is one step closer to being with in my grasp.