language prowess. These limits are evident in the imparting of cultural, historical, and
specialized knowledge.
The diffusion of ideas through different cultures is antagonized by the language barriers
between them. It is extremely rare for two isolated cultures to develop similar languages,
technocracies, and concepts. Since language is the main device for communicating these
advancements it is apparent that it would be difficult for two separate cultures to quickly
understand and accept each other. This is a cause for many of the cultural abominations that are
still evident today. The constraint of language on the spread of cultural knowledge can also be
seen in the present day association of civilizations in comparison to their dialect derivations.
Many European and American countries are in pronounced association, while many of the
Asian and Middle Eastern countries share a similar closeness. Many of the European and
American cultures use romantic dialects to convey knowledge, leaving them isolated from the
Eastern world and vice versa.
Man’s natural tendency to investigate the history of his surroundings can be limited by
language, especially in the area of anthropology. The study of past civilizations can be seriously
complicated by the dissimilar means of communicating between societies of different time
periods. Philologists and others studying the history of Man’s means of communication play an
important role in aiding anthropologists in discovery. This can be seen in the French caves,
Lascaux and Chauvet, which were discovered to have pictures and symbols painted on their
interiors by humans twenty and thirty thousand years ago. Many arguments have stemmed over
the intended meanings of the paintings in determining the sophistication and reasoning of the
ancient humans. This is just one example of how the language barrier limits progression of
knowledge between civilizations of separate eras.
In some occupations and fields of knowledge specialized language develops. Specific
jargon can transpire in areas requiring a certain adroitness in complex or abstract thinking.
Terminology and particular thought processing can sprout from occupational fields such as
medicine, law, engineering, or even diplomatic relations. These developments can cause
problems in communicating ideas beyond the realm of specific specializations. So, a scientist is
able to easily convey his important discovery to his fellow scientists, but many people whom the
discovery could effect might have trouble understanding the meaning because of this unique
argot. The “Y2K Scare” is also a paradigm of this restraint on knowledge. Software designers
and computer engineers had difficulty explaining the implications of the time changing on the
operating systems of many major networks and databases. This trouble in expression lead to an
agitation in anarchists and survivalists all around the country, which in turn increased the anxiety
among many Americans.
Language’s limitations on knowledge are apparent in the communication of cultural,
ancient, and specialized information. One’s ability to successfully communicate with others is
most contingent on their command of the social language that they are immersed in. Diverse,
archaic, and highly differentiated social languages act as barriers in this communication.
