Extensive reading Language by Arthur Lee Jacobson Paral:Humanity's highly developed ability to communicate verbally is our essence,I believe.Without our tremendous vocabulary,we'd perhaps be not much better off than gorillas and monkeys.Language is taken for granted since it is a basic characteristic.But it is,for all its universality,among the most powerful of human tools."The pen is mightier than the sword." Para 2:Language informs,persuades,queries,expresses emotions,allows transmission of complex ideas and data,and its usage is often artful,whether prosaic or in verse.Of course,so far my remarks are regarding vocalization and writing.The broadest definition of language includes much more.For example,we have codes,such as Morse and flag,smoke signals,body language, and to an extent even music.Computer programs include special coding that can in some sense be called language.In my essay I choose to restrict the word's meaning to its root:tongue-based communication,and its representation by alphabets and writing.All other versions I will refer to generally as communication. Para 3:Humanity has been classified by linguists,philologists and the like,into common groups.Hence we hear of Indo-European,Polynesian,or other groups.Some languages are closely related,others remotely so.One of the most complex linguistic realms on Earth is in northwestern North America,where I live.For reasons that I don't begin to understand,the first peoples or natives here had notably diverse languages even though they lived near to one another. Since these essays are a mere reflection of my worldview,and not objective surveys of the topics, it is my right to dismiss comparative linguistics right now.I just don't know or care enough about it.The rest of this essay will deal with my experiences with English,and my limited dabbling in foreign tongues. Para 4:As early as second or third grade I was an avid,even extraordinary reader.My sister Joy and I contested to see which of us could read the most books in a given summer.We were worlds ahead of most children.Don't ask me why,because I have no idea;somehow it came to pass.I do not recall having exceptional vocabulary,speech habits,or handwriting.But I read voraciously.The habit of reading much was retained,and only slackened markedly years and years later.No doubt my abilities as a writer were boosted by much reading;my thoughts also were expanded greatly.Often I read books above my level,so encountered numerous words and concepts which were lost upon me. Para 5:In high school I was instructed to choose French,German,Latin or Spanish to learn. I chose French--why I don't remember.At the time my schoolwork was heavy,and I held an after-school job which kept me out many evenings,often from 5:30 until 10:00 or later.I couldn't get enough sleep,do all the homework,and maintain a well-balanced existence.So I prioritized my school subjects,and French was judged the lowest of all.I figured "if I desire to learn French, then I'll go to France for a year and imbibe the whole culture,not merely the language."Hence,I flunked French.This proved a setback,because the University of Washington informed me that my French deficiency would preclude my being admitted to their institution.The U.W.said "make up your French deficiency at the Community College--then reapply here." Para 6:Angrily,I went to the Community College.Much to my surprise,I found it offered a good education.I liked it so much that I stayed for two years.At the time,its tuition was very low,Extensive reading Language by Arthur Lee Jacobson Para1: Humanity's highly developed ability to communicate verbally is our essence, I believe. Without our tremendous vocabulary, we'd perhaps be not much better off than gorillas and monkeys. Language is taken for granted since it is a basic characteristic. But it is, for all its universality, among the most powerful of human tools. "The pen is mightier than the sword." Para 2: Language informs, persuades, queries, expresses emotions, allows transmission of complex ideas and data, and its usage is often artful, whether prosaic or in verse. Of course, so far my remarks are regarding vocalization and writing. The broadest definition of language includes much more. For example, we have codes, such as Morse and flag, smoke signals, body language, and to an extent even music. Computer programs include special coding that can in some sense be called language. In my essay I choose to restrict the word's meaning to its root: tongue-based communication, and its representation by alphabets and writing. All other versions I will refer to generally as communication. Para 3: Humanity has been classified by linguists, philologists and the like, into common groups. Hence we hear of Indo-European, Polynesian, or other groups. Some languages are closely related, others remotely so. One of the most complex linguistic realms on Earth is in northwestern North America, where I live. For reasons that I don't begin to understand, the first peoples or natives here had notably diverse languages even though they lived near to one another. Since these essays are a mere reflection of my worldview, and not objective surveys of the topics, it is my right to dismiss comparative linguistics right now. I just don't know or care enough about it. The rest of this essay will deal with my experiences with English, and my limited dabbling in foreign tongues. Para 4: As early as second or third grade I was an avid, even extraordinary reader. My sister Joy and I contested to see which of us could read the most books in a given summer. We were worlds ahead of most children. Don't ask me why, because I have no idea; somehow it came to pass. I do not recall having exceptional vocabulary, speech habits, or handwriting. But I read voraciously. The habit of reading much was retained, and only slackened markedly years and years later. No doubt my abilities as a writer were boosted by much reading; my thoughts also were expanded greatly. Often I read books above my level, so encountered numerous words and concepts which were lost upon me. Para 5: In high school I was instructed to choose French, German, Latin or Spanish to learn. I chose French -- why I don't remember. At the time my schoolwork was heavy, and I held an after-school job which kept me out many evenings, often from 5:30 until 10:00 or later. I couldn't get enough sleep, do all the homework, and maintain a well-balanced existence. So I prioritized my school subjects, and French was judged the lowest of all. I figured "if I desire to learn French, then I'll go to France for a year and imbibe the whole culture, not merely the language." Hence, I flunked French. This proved a setback, because the University of Washington informed me that my French deficiency would preclude my being admitted to their institution. The U.W. said "make up your French deficiency at the Community College -- then reapply here." Para 6: Angrily, I went to the Community College. Much to my surprise, I found it offered a good education. I liked it so much that I stayed for two years. At the time, its tuition was very low