Shhhh, China’s secret female language

Title: Shhhh, China’s secret female language

Author: Jaime Tong
Publication Info: Published on September 27, 2004 by www.trentu.ca
Date: 26 May 2011
Class: Theory of Knowledge
Category: In Class

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             In TOK class, we were assigned to read the article “Shhhh, China’s secret female language” by Jaime Tong. This article was about a secret language of the Chinese women in the Hunan province. This language of NuShu had been passed on by generations and was the language of voice, read by singing and written in like a poem. By having their own language that was idiosyncratic to these women (of this province) alone, they created their own community and formed a sense of unity between each other. Unfortunately, the language of NuShu is very rare in our generation due to the growing population of women attending university. Nevertheless, NuShu will forever remain intact as a significant part of the Chinese culture.

            [Wonderings] Although NuShu will stay as an important aspect of Chinese history, how significant is this language of NuShu if only a few people know how to use it? [Knowledge Issue] If only a few people know how to use it, how effective is it in communication? Of course, within the speakers, it may be very convenient seeing as they will be able to isolate themselves (whenever needed), express ideas and thoughts freely with increased rights to privacy etc. [Knowledge Issue] However, if NuShu was the only language that a person could speak, how well could this person communicate with others? I would be limited to communicate with solely the NuShu speakers. [Knowledge Issue] Does this mean then, that the language one is able to speak determines the number of people one is able to address and communicate with? Does it mean that because there are more English speakers in the world than that of Vietnamese, that if I learn to speak English, I will have a greater number of people I could talk with? [Knowledge Issues] If this is the case, then how would one justify the communication made by body language? Would body language have been created, or have become as popular as it is today if there was only one language spoken by the whole population in the first place? Which is more significant, unity and freedom, or better means of communication and thus the access to freedom from the restriction imposed by the limited number of speakers?