The power of language

The story of the Tower of Babel

1. What does the image, and the story, suggest about the benefits of everyone speaking the same language? What are the drawbacks? 

That its easyer to comunicate between each other and to organise themselves as a group. A drawback is that there would be no ethnical variety.

2. What does the story suggest about the social functions of language?

That language is what makes us what we are as a group. If we understand between each other, we will be able to work togeather, and reach a comon objective.

 Tower of babel story:

Up until this point in the Bible, the whole world had one language - one common speech for all people. The people of the earth became skilled in construction and decided to build a city with a tower that would reach to heaven. By building the tower they wanted to make a name for themselves and also prevent their city from being scattered.

God came to see their city and the tower they were building. He perceived their intentions, and in His infinite wisdom, He knew this "stairway to heaven" would only lead the people away from God. He noted the powerful force within their unity of purpose. 

As a result, God confused their language, causing them to speak different languages so they would not understand each other. By doing this, God thwarted their plans. He also scattered the people of the city all over the face of the earth.