Freedom in Language

 The experiences from Malcom X and Helen Keller regarding using language as a freeing experience is understandable because language is a set system that is universally used in order to convey thoughts and express wants, desires, and needs. Without being part of this system, people such as Malcom X and Helen Keller are left out from the sources others use in order to express themselves. Malcom X gained power through his experience of becoming literate. He could not have portrayed the magnitude of his thoughts in the struggle to take action for African Americans. By having access to this language, he is able to be heard by others of the opposing side in order to have views heard. Hellen Keller was able to use language as a means to communicate with any of the world. Being cut off from all communication, her low functionality is what prohibited her from being able to gather meaning in all her surroundings. She was limited by the feeling of having other pass her by but there were no ways of communicating what was happening before she had lessons from Mrs. Sullivan. When Hellen broke her doll and pieces flew everywhere, she felt content and glad that she did that in order to communicate her frustration. After she realized what her teacher had been trying to explain to her, she was freed from her inability to understand as she felt sorrow after realizing that she was lacking comprehension of what Mrs. Sullivan was trying to communicate earlier. In my own experience as a child, I had an older sister that would at time not allow me to express myself and get my point across. Frustration would build up inside of me and it was as though I felt captive by not being able to express my thoughts or feelings. It felt freeing when I finally was able to gain better diction in order to describe and in better detail, explain my thoughts. I felt as though I was finally being heard. Also, now working with children with autism, some within the spectrum of a speech impediment or low verbal skills, it is difficult to function properly when there is a barrier in communication. Although pictures and words are shown for the basic needs, there is still a level of expression that is left out. This expression may have a lot to do with the feeling of love and other emotions in which are not describable as tangible objects are. When a want or desire is unable to be communicated to the level of being able to be understandable to the communicative partner, there is a metaphorical sensation of being barred. Not having this freedom can be extremely complicating to someone who has the thought process and understands what is going around them but their voice is discredited by others who have may not be aware of what this other person feels. There is a degree of freedom in language that enables some to fully request for what they desire. This freedom is felt after experiencing the limitations of an under developed vocabulary.