Quotes About Language

We know from research that the reading circuit is not given to human beings through a genetic blueprint like vision or language; it needs an environment to develop. Further, it will adapt to that environment's requirements - from different writing systems to the characteristics of whatever medium is used.

It's likely that taboo words are stored in the right hemisphere of the brain. Massive left hemisphere strokes or the entire surgical removal of the left hemisphere can leave people with no articulate speech other than the ability to swear, spout cliches and song lyrics.

We've been clear that schools shouldn't just tackle direct homophobic bullying, but also the use of phrases like 'that's so gay' to mean rubbish or bad, because we know the devastating impact they can have on young people's self-esteem.

They're completely American. When I served my son falafel in a pita the other day, he said, 'Daddy, this taco is very good.'

I see music as one language. If one musical form eats its own tail, it dies. So it needs to be a mongrel, it needs to be hybridised.

It would be wrong to say immigration holds results back or affects overall qualifications ultimately. But at the start of primary school, especially, it means that teachers have to tailor their lessons, to spend longer with pupils who have English as a second language.

Six months after that, I left Taiwan, first for Hong Kong and then for mainland China, where I spent another three months studying still more Chinese and generally kicking around the country.

Even though I grew up in America, at home we spoke mostly Chinese, because my mom is from Taiwan.

Autistic children are very difficult to take care of, especially severely autistic ones. When I was 4, I had almost no language; when I was 3, I had none at all.

Communication is something we all take for granted.

Books are mute as far as sound is concerned. It follows that reading aloud is a combination of two distinct operations, of two 'languages.' It is something far more complex than speaking and reading taken separately by themselves.

'The White Ribbon' had to be in German because of the subject matter, that was clear. But in the case of 'Amour,' it could have taken place in any country.

I'd love to do something like 'A Canterbury Tale,' because I love the English language.

Back home everyone said I didn't have any talent. They might be saying the same thing here but it sounds better in French.

I prefer working with new talent irrespective of whether they know the language or not. At the same time, I have been keen on taking female leads, who know Tamil quite well.

The talent of a true writer and poet is in the ear.

To what better purpose can a man's energy be devoted, and his talents, than the resuscitation of his country's language?

Money doesn't talk, it swears.

Remember this, folks - I am a Hillbilly, and I don't always Bet the same way I talk. Good advice is one thing, but smart gambling is quite another.

Rock isn't art, it's the way ordinary people talk.

Language is remarkable, except under the extreme constraints of mathematics and logic, it never can talk only about what it's supposed to talk about but is always spreading around.

Slang is really coded talk. I can say a few things, in front of somebody, that only people who know what I'm saying are going to pick up on.

People in real life don't get ballplayers' humor, the way we talk in the clubhouse.

No, I didn't forget Samoan - I understand it when you talk to me but, you know, to put phrases together I sound like I do in English.