Scene II of the second act in one of Shakesphere's most famous plays is set in the Capulet orchard. Romeo has sneaked in and is waiting under Juliet's window hoping to see her. Juliet goes out onto the balcony and, thinking she is alone, speaks. While proclaiming her love, she wishes Romeo was not a Montague and that she was not a Capulet, “What’s Montague? It is not hand, nor foot nor arm nor face, nor any other body part … So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d retain that dear perfection which he owes” Romeo then speaks out and agrees to change his name for her. Juliet is surprised and is worried that he will be discovered. However Romeo does not care and longs to stay longer but time is running out. The couple then agrees to marriage.
In this scene, Juliet wonders what a word is. However I believe that a word is a tool to communicate ideas and expressions. A group of people should have to know what a word sounds like, how it is written and what it means to able to communicate with each other. It is possible to have an established word mean something else then what it is. For example, a stone does not have to be defined as the hard substance, formed of mineral matter and can mean a pen. This is why it is possible to have different languages. A language is simply a set of words and can even include gestures made with our hands.
During the Stone Age is when scientists think Homo sapiens were first developing language and because of many factors, humans have travelled and lived in different areas across the world creating several different communities. As these communities developed and evolution taking place, the difference between humans has become greater. Different sets of words, language, have been created. This allowed us our civilization and societies to become ever some complex. Humans until recently have been thought to be the only animal to communicate with languages. This is perhaps why humans by far have the most advanced civilization.
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I think what you've said is really good. You've given a good intro for Romeo & Juliet. :)
You said: "a word is a tool to communicate ideas and expressions" and that "A group of people should have to know what a word sounds like, how it is written and what it means to able to communicate with each other." The main thing I want to focus on here is sounds and written. From this, it is obvious you think that the only form of communication is through words which means spokenly and verbally.
I don't like the way you've dismissed sign language as a whole. I think that sign language (notice: language?) is actually a language just like italian is a language. However, you're interpretation of a language seems to only be the spoken languages. You think a language is simply a set of "words" but what about sign language? There are no words in sign language at all and no sounds to be made verbally. Sign language is made up of body language and hand gestures as you've mentioned in your post but the way you've mentioned sign language implies you don't appreciate sign language. You said that "A language is simply a set of words and can even include gestures made with our hands" This statement of yours already shows how you haven't considered sign language as an official language but more like the obvious hand gestures that are known universally.
I'd like to ask, what would you do if you couldn't speak and became deaf at the same time? By now, you'd only be able to use your taste, smell and sight senses. How will YOU communicate with everyone else? By now, you can't use your "words" to communicate with the world now. Now, you're left to learn a whole new language, sign language.
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