Language Deficiency as the Basis of Social Problems

Garth George, an opinion writer for the New Zealand Herald, claims that illiteracy and the lack of competent language skills make up the roots of most social problems. George believes that insufficient comprehension of oral and written language is one of the most significant factors that causes violence, abuse, bad parenting, and juvenile delinquency. George claims that poor communication, resulting from the inability to tell others about ourselves and explain to others what we want, as well as the inability to understand the desires of others, leads to anger and frustration.

Effective communication is extremely crucial to our relationships with others, and the lack of language skills can result in unsuccessful communication that harms relationships between people. Those who cannot effectively communicate with others and understand the world that surrounds them tend to feel isolated from the rest of society. If a lack of language skills frequently results in this sense of frustration, those who experience it are more likely to alienate themselves from the rest of the world. They are more prone to joining violent groups such as gangs, giving up on language involving tasks such as school, and committing acts of crime.

According to wikipedia, people who are considered functionally illiterate (cannot use reading, writing, or computational skills efficiently in daily life) are more at risk for facing stressful experiences, social intimidation, health problems, and an inadequate income. Illiteracy has also been linked with poverty and crime in the United States. The link between illiteracy and poverty seems very plausible. In American society, literacy is crucial in almost all careers, especially in careers that are high paying. Those who lack an education or language skills are more likely to struggle in obtaining a career that will generate enough income to pay the bills. In the economy of today, a strong education is almost a necessity to achieve financial success. Therefore, it makes sense that those who are illiterate, functionaly illiterate, or struggle with language are more likely to live in poverty.

The link between literacy and crime however, is more complex. In the past decade, approximately 60% of adults in United States prisons were considered to be either functionally or marginally illiterate. Similarly, about 85% of juvenile criminals had difficulties with writing, math, and reading. (Note the difference between "functionally illiterate" and "illiterate"-the main distinction being that a functionally illiterate person can read and write in their native language, but is not fully efficient in everyday activities; an illiterate person cannot read or write at all).

Are the links between literacy and crime correlated by coincidence? Does illiteracy actually cause a greater likelihood that a person will become involved in dangerous or violent practices? After thinking this question through, I have to say that I disagree. I do not think that the inability to communicate efficiently due to a lack of skills in language directly causes a person to become more prone to lead a criminal life. However, I do believe that the types of people who are illiterate tend to live in environments and face circumstances that promote a greater likelihood of criminal activity. It seems logical that those who are illiterate have trouble finding sufficient jobs and are more likely to be poor. Because of their impoverished social status, they are more likely to resort to illegal activities in order to get money, are more likely to live in neighborhood where crime exists and is influential, and are less likely to succeed in school because they cannot read or write, ultimately leading to dropping out and the possibility of becoming involved in crime as a substitute. Therefore, I believe that there is not so much a direct link between language skills and crime, but rather a direct relationship between language skills and poverty, and a direct relationship between poverty and social problems.

If these social problems are a result of the environment a person lives in (which is often a result of financial status), and financial status is related to how well a person understands the language of a society, would ethnic minorities living in a country be more likely to experience social problems? For example, are immigrants who speak another language and move to predominately English speaking regions of the United States more likely to be involved in crime than English speakers? Will their English language deficiencies increase the chances that they will struggle financially, and will this struggle enhance the probability that they will face social problems such as crime and violence?

As I am writing this, I feel like illiteracy is not so much the issue at hand, but simply the ability to communicate. Reading and writing are clearly important forms of communication, but communication through conversation is especially significant in the relationships that people have with one another. Perhaps the general language barriers that exist, rather than illiteracy, are a bigger influence on financial well-being and the resulting well-being of an individual. For example, would someone living in the United States who could speak and understand English but could not read or write be at the same disadvantage as an immigrant who could not understand English at all? Both are by definition illiterate, but clearly the immigrant will struggle even more due to the language barrier.


I think that we have all experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate with another person. Whether a language barrier or a cultural obstacle exists, or simply if another other person cannot quite comprehend a point that you are making, the inability to connect through language and to experience mutual understanding can be upsetting. Through the financial problems that the lack of knowledge of language can bring, to the simple frustrations of not being able to understand the surrounding world, the inability to fully communicate with the people and the environment around you can bring forth distress, anger, frustration, and resentment. I am interested to hear your thoughts. Clearly many factors influence and lead to social problems throughout the world. But in regards to language, is it plausible to say that illiteracy, or perhaps better stated as the inability to fully communicate with a language, is responsible for many of the world's social problems?


Links:
1. George, Garth (2007). "Lack of Language Skills at Core of Social Problems." New Zealand Herald. Retrieved from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10474604 on November 9, 2007.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_illiteracy (November 9, 2007)/