Do you think humans could coexist relatively peacefully if they had no spoken language?

Question

There are lots of religious and other quotes that support the virtues of keeping one's mouth shut. My favorite is: "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence." -Xenocrates

Good point about animals, but I said "relatively." Animals don't start entire wars or have evil intentions/motives. They only act like that when they think their survival is threatened.

Answer 1

I think we are far too stupid to realise the benefits.

Answer 2

what we do doesnt depend only on what comes out of our mouth. We have facial expressions and body language. I'm not always good at words...so i use facial expressions and body language more. People might think you hate them because of the way you smile at them, so you'd have to clarify with words how you really feel about them had your smile been misinterpreted. It's easier with words because they clarify sometimes, but with that same power, you can say the wrong thing and that can lead to many other problems. I'm not sure we could live without a spoken language because of that. Then again, there are mutes in the world and they do just fine most of the time.

Answer 3

I think we would be better off if speech was kept to a minimum but we'd be worse off if it were totally nonexistent. Imagine being offered food and having no way of saying you are allergic. You could try and act it out but it would be very easy for the other person to misunderstand and think they are being mocked. I assume that along with no spoken language, there is no written language or highly developed sign language because they would just take the place of speech and we'd be no better off, just quieter.

Answer 4

HOLD IT! HOLD IT! HOLD IT!

Don't roosters fight? Don't dogs fight ? Bulls, Rhinos, hippos...? What about ant colonies? Haven't you heard of monkeys, chimps and apes from different groups fighting and warring? Chimps have been known to steal, rape, murder and form gangs... within their own groups! What are you saying that "speech" is the common denominator in wars?

So much talk within religions of peace and love... yet religions have promoted and instigated the bloodiest conflicts in history.

If there was no verbal communication, then there would be sign communications where gesturing would replace the spoken word... or the written word would certainly replace the spoken word. Hey, I've seen some wicked "arguments" and really vicious fights between deaf-mutes... and man, they WERE vicious! And, yes, I saw cliques of them almost go at it... and it was frightening to just be around!

Yes, a fool is THOUGHT wise when he keeps his mouth shut... but he is STILL a fool, nonetheless!

Before the spoken language, the "humans" (if we might stretch the meaning of this word to include them) lived in relative isolation from others; they began to form groups for mutual protection and eventually for division of labor. But, it was not the lack of language the caused them to live in relative peace but the lack of interaction due to isolation from others. I would think they considered others not of their tribe to be enemies at sight, or adversaries in the hunt for food. Without language, they were unable to tell the others, "Hey, hold on to that spear, man; I'm just passing through... you can have those monkeys and those worms and feast all you want!"

To tell you the truth, "I've regretted my silence in the face of injustice, when I should have spoken up sooner." -Calico, The Nikonian (yeah, that's me).

The spoken word has enabled us to find peace, justice and what today are commonly known as our rights, freedoms and liberties. Before they were spoken, they were figments of fertile imaginations... that were later put to words.

Answer 5

I think communication is not by spoken language alone, there are different ways of communications. If by not talking is the way to make people coexist peacefully then it should be happening now among the deaf and the dumbs. I think our thinking mind is the source of conflicts, cause we don't use it sanely. I don't think spoken language is the culprit it still the stupid mind.

Answer 6

I like your quote! It would be interesting to know, with certainty, if--before "language" people lived more or less peacefully than now.
I suspect that no matter what means of communication, the same sort of misunderstandings occurred--as in all human transactions. Consider trying to communicate with someone who doesn't understand your language. Is this not very much the same?

Answer 7

Language, taken in a broad sense, makes us human. The ability to symbolize and coherently make use of these symbols is what sets us a part from the vast majority of non-human life forms. Thus, you cannot speak of 'human' without implying the existence of language. In fact, the silence to which you refer to in that wonderful quote would not BE were it not for language; silence in a world of symbol is just another symbol.

Answer 8

we shouldn't blame language for what our hands do ,peace or war is something that we can do even if we were deaf and blind , it's the cancer of our thoughts but believe me even cancer can be cured if we really try to hear and understand each other well

Answer 9

Interesting point. But it sounds like a dull existence to me.

Answer 10

The arguements would start quieter, but still end in gunfire and explosions

Hate still seethes and breeds and seeks blind release

Answer 11

Never seen two deaf mutes beating the crap out of each other in a bar fight, I take it?