The use of language forms a closed loop, since it is modeled on the loop of projection and introjection.
The difference between the two loops is simply that the psychological
one is based on individual meanings and the linguistic one on social
values. This link between language and social values is one of
identity, but only as long as society is static or is evolving slowly. In a static society, the language is the society. Society is its language. The two are one.
Language
and society are two different systems since the structure within
language centers on the static signifier whilst the structure within
consciousness orientates on the dynamic signified. In times of stability
the dynamic structure of consciousness is put on hold, so linguistic
values and social values are one. However, as society changes so the
dynamic structure gradually comes into the foreground. Perhaps it is
more accurate to put this effect the other way around: as the dynamic
structure of consciousness becomes accentuated, so society begins to
change.
As society changes, social values and linguistic values begin to diverge.Language
contains traditional values – this is what is implied in the ideas of
social conditioning and social learning. In a static society,
traditional values are unquestioned. Hence social learning takes the
form of social conditioning. Social conditioning is the unquestioned or
confused adherence to social norms, and occurs when society is taken
to be self-referential. Society is the judge of its own needs.
The only circumstance that normally breaks social conditioning in some degree is change. Therefore in a period of fast social change, chaos occurs as social norms are questioned, altered and perhaps even rejected. New norms are slowly generated. This chaos ensures that society can no longer be regarded as being self-referential.
Two Language Phenomena
Ethnic Destruction
Language is modeled on the loop of projection and introjection.
This makes possible a destructive cultural phenomenon. When a foreign
language is imposed on a group (or ethnic minority) that group is
eventually destroyed. When a person changes his primary language, or
even his culture, he automatically changes his pattern of projection
and introjection. Hence his needs change. His old way of life disappears.
There are two qualifications to this view. The
rate of change depends on how related the languages are: the more
related they are, the more gradual is the change. Secondly, immigrants
may only speak their adopted language in their adopted society; they
many retain their ethnic language in their family settings. This
retention of the ethnic language slows down the cultural destruction of
the group.
Abandoning
native languages leads to a ‘melting pot’ pattern of immigrant
assimilation. This pattern cannot work in the long-term, since the
immigrants’ sense of identity is destroyed. A new sense of identity
cannot be created without community support, and this is often lacking
for the immigrant.
A
cosmopolitan culture is much better than a melting pot culture, and is
better suited to the widening possibilities in choice of values that
is opening to the modern world. Therefore, in today’s age of
cosmopolitanism, it is bad politics and bad psychology to try to
persuade immigrants to abandon their native language.
Pursuit of Truth
Times
of change produce a special phenomenon: the pursuit of truth. In
times of change, social values (representing tradition) and language
values begin gradually to diverge because they begin to reflect
different needs, those of tradition and those of modernity. Within
this ‘gap’ arises the possibility of pursuing the search for truth.
This gap allows the spectator to view both social values and language
as separate realities that are running on parallel courses. Truth is
always the result of comparing the old with the new.
In a static society, social values and language are one; there is no means of attempting a re-valuation of existing values. Tradition is the only mode of knowledge.
