Happy May 5th

Just a quick blog about nothing really.

I am distracted with reading Huckleberry Finn for my Social Psychology class. Reading it and finding 25 Social Psychological themes that are played out in the story are do by Monday. So far the thought that has given me the most to think about was the discussion between Jim and Huck about speaking French. I don't know what Social Psychology mumbo jumbo I will highlight from the topic, but it was really interesting rationale.

Jim couldn't understand why people would think of speaking French. Conversation as I recall it, though not official quotes by any means:
Huck: Is a cow a pig? Or a pig a cow?
Jim: Of course not.
Huck: Does a cow oink, or a pig moo?
Jim: No.
Huck: Then why can't you understand that people would have different ways of communicating?
Jim: Is a french person a human?
Huck: Well of course.
Jim: Then why shouldn't he talk like the rest of us?

Now of course, I could have gotten the quotes and we could all discuss how the Southern language as spoken by Jim might as well have been French because it is so hard to translate. It is taking so much concentration, and I personally would rather be reading a psychology book.

But, the conversation does raise some interesting thoughts. Funny how humans do have so many different ways of expressing themselves, and often language is not the one that serves us best. In fact, I think it gets in the way of so many thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I think we would be better off if we mooed, or oinked instead of talked. Even amongst humans who share the same language, vocabulary, and dialect, we don't understand or accept what is being said. All of the undertones and nonverbal cues can be read and understood if it weren't for the language barriers that we present just by opening our mouths. I know I try to use language as a disguise or a tool to get what I want. But, there are times when I am saying one thing and thinking another. Sometimes, I don't even know this is the case at the moment.

I am so quick to give a response; verbal, written, or otherwise. I don't often consider what I really think before my mouth is opening and out comes a "mooooo" or an "oink" or even a "cock-a-doodle-doo". The words mean absolutely nothing and the only thing registering is the noise that comes in front of the joy, sadness, ridicule, complaint, enthusiasm, anger, frustration, or exhilaration. Doesn't matter what the words coming out of my mouth are, the tone and the body language are reading something entirely different. It is often out of my own ignorance or lack of awareness that I speak one thing and express something else. Trying to stop and wait for my words to align with my feelings is not an easy task. Some people might suffer from the opposite problem. Your feelings are right there and you are aware, but the words to not come quickly, and when they do come, they often don't fully represent the emotion that is felt. I guess it is the same problem, either way. Our words and our feelings are not coordinated. For those of us who use words too quickly, waiting for the words from our partner in a conversation can feel excruciating.

I begin wondering if the person heard me. Or maybe they heard and are so disgusted they can't say anything back. Maybe the person just doesn't care, so he just doesn't respond. Clearly, I know that people have different styles of communication and that I shouldn't be reading into silence anything more than the person coordinating thoughts and feelings. And yet, there I will stand wondering why I didn't get my opinion across or why the person doesn't care enough to respond. Silliness. If I would take more time with communicating and coordinating thoughts with words, I could save myself and those I love so much grief. Learning lessons don't get any easier as we get older.

What social psychological term might the above noted conversation exemplify? I will try to update the post when I figure it out. Feel free to chime in. Maybe it doesn't mean anything more than poor Jim was one of the originators of disgust towards Frenchman. What is the point in communicating with them? They don't really want to get to know us.

On that note, "Happy Cinco de Mayo", "Bon cinq de Mai", "Bueno Cinco de Maio". Or maybe it is better said, "Moooooooooooooooooo", "Quack, quack", "Oink, Oink". Enjoy the fun.