Nicol, J. L., Forster, K. I., Veres, C. (1997). Subject-verbal arrangement process in understanding. Journal of Memory and Language, 36, 569-587. doi:10.1006/jmla.1996.2497 Verbal communication helps us to meet different needs through our ability to express ourselves. When it comes to instrumental needs, we use verbal communication to ask questions that provide us with specific information. We also use verbal communication to describe things, people and ideas. Verbal communication helps us to inform, convince and entertain others, which, as we will later learn, are the three general goals of public speech. It is also through our verbal statements that our personal relationships are created. In essence, the language is expressive.
Verbal expressions help us communicate our observations, thoughts, feelings and needs (McKay, Davis, Fanning, 1995). Serious attempts to create a common language, sometimes called lingua franca or aid language, began in the 16th year, when world exploration led to more trade and Latin was no longer effective as a language of international affairs. Since then, hundreds of auxiliary languages have been registered, but none have reached widespread international use or have been officially recognized as an international language (Crystal, 2005). While some of these movements were primarily driven by economics and profit, others hoped to promote mutual understanding, more effective diplomacy and peaceful coexistence. Esperanto, which means “hopeful,” is the most well-known and widespread language of aid that should serve as a common international language. Invented by a Polish ophthalmologist at the end of 19.19.19.1980, Esperanto now has between one and two million speakers worldwide. Many important works of literature and manuscripts such as the Bible and the Koran have been translated into Esperanto, and many original works of literature and academic articles have been written in the language. Some countries also broadcast radio programmes in Esperanto. Several barriers must be crossed for a language of aid such as Esperanto to be accepted at the international level.
First of all, massive efforts should be put into a simultaneous learning phase, otherwise it is difficult to motivate people to learn a language that is not necessary for their daily lives and that no one else speaks. Second, as we have learned, people are proud of their linguistic identity and find the pleasure of playing with the rules of language and inventing new words and meanings that constantly change a language. Such changes cannot be taken into account in an auxiliary language. Finally, the optimism of an internationally shared language eventually yields to realism. If a common language really brings peaceful coexistence, how can we explain all the civil wars and other conflicts that have taken place between people who speak the same language? When we express emotions, we communicate our emotions. The expression of emotions is a difficult part of verbal communication, because there are many social norms about how, why, when, where and to whom we express our emotions. Emotional expression standards also vary according to nationality and other cultural identities and characteristics such as age and gender. Regarding age, young children are usually expressing free, positive and negative emotions in public. Sexual elements intersect with age as boys age and are associated with a standard of emotional restraint. Although men vary to the extent that they are emotionally expressive, there is still a dominant social norm that encourages women and even expects to be more emotionally expressive than men.