Socrates and Monoglossos:
On Language and Culture
By Corey Heller

Monoglossos has invited Socrates to his home for an evening of discussion. Socrates is especially eager to discuss Monoglossos’ views on language and culture since the citizens in the community have been discussing them lately.

(M:=Monoglossos, S:=Socrates)

M: Greetings Socrates. I am delighted that you have been able to join me this evening.

S: Thank you, Monoglossos. It is my honor to have been invited as a guest to your home. I have been eager for some time to have the opportunity to meet you and to discuss your views on language and culture.

M: Please, come be seated and we can engage in our discussion. [They are seated]. As I have heard, you are displeased with my proclamation that children, and people in general, should only learn one language, the language of their homeland, and refrain from learning additional languages.

S: Yes, Monoglossos, this is true.

M: Then I shall share my reasoning with you. Firstly, from the observations that I, and other knowledgeable men, have made, it is clear that humans have a limited capacity for learning and remembering things. Once our minds are full, they can not take in more, so when we try to learn more, our minds must lose some of what they learned before. Think, for example, of a barrel. Once it is full, if you try to add more it simply overflows. The same is true for languages. By learning more than one language, we will always be at a disadvantage since we will never have learned one language fully. Secondly, we have no need for learning more than the language. We spend our days with people who speak the same language as ourselves so there is no need to learn more languages. We should focus on perfecting one language, the language spoken by the people where we live. Finally, Socrates, by learning another language, one would associate with another culture and therefore would become confused as to where he belongs. We must ensure our citizens are clear-thinking and that they retain loyalties to their own land and people so that each country will prosper and stay strong.

S: Ah, you have some very interesting arguments, Monoglossos. However, I have a few questions that I would like to ask you to clarify my understanding.

M: Yes, Socrates, please ask me your questions.

S: So, Monoglossos, you say that the minds of humans are limited in their capacity for knowledge. Thus, our minds can only hold a certain number of words and once that limit has been reached, then some words must be removed to make room for new words. Is this correct?

M: Yes, Socrates, this is correct.

S: You believe that a mind is like a barrel. If you fill a barrel with water, it is full. Thus, if you attempt to add more, then it will only displace the water in the barrel and will overflow. Is this your view?

M: Yes, this is correct.

S: Would you also say that all things relating to humans have limited capacities?

M: Which things do you mean, Socrates?

S: For example, memories?

M: Yes, I do believe there is a limit to the number of memories we can have.

S: And what about physical limits?

M: Yes, there are certainly limits to what we can accomplish physically.

S: And feelings and emotions?

M: Yes, there are limits to our feelings and emotions.

S: Would you say that a parent who has a child gives all of his or her love to that child?

M: Yes, all of it.

S: What then happens when a parent has two, or more, children? Is the love split between each of the children?

M: No, it would not split. In the case of love for children, each child receives a full amount of love from the parent. The parent simply has twice the amount of love.

S: So each child receives a full amount of love and therefore, for two children there are two full amounts of love?

M: Yes, this is what I am saying.

S: When it comes to language, couldn’t the same reasoning also be applied? Could not we also say that a human has the capacity to learn two languages fully without losing ability in the other language?

M: Hmm, well, I guess it is possible based on your reasoning. However, even if this were true, I still maintain that there is no reason that a person would need or want to learn another language.

S: Why are you concerned that humans should learn not learn more than one language?

M: I see no good reason why our children should learn another language thank their community language.

S: Is it not possible that a child might grow up and travel to other places in the world? How, then, will this person communicate with others in the world? Learning a new language as an adult can be very difficult, so would it not be best for our children to train themselves early in the art of languages?

M: Yes, I suppose this might be true simply for the convenience and the pleasure of learning languages. But there still is no need.

S: What of the importers in our country? Is it not necessary that they be able to communicate with those from other countries? Shouldn’t they also know other languages so that they can negotiate good food for us at good prices?

M: Yes, I agree that would be a reason for those people to learn another language.

S: Is it not possible, then, that there are a multitude of other such reasons that we haven’t yet spoken of and each of them individually might be a good reason for learning another language?

M: Yes, this is possible.

S: You also stated that you believe that a child will end up being confused and will lose the loyalties to his country of origin if he were to learn another language and share in another culture?

M: Yes, this is a natural consequence.

S: Do you enjoy eating spices and grains that our importers bring us from other countries?

M: Oh yes, definitely.

S: And do you enjoy wearing clothing made out of cloth from weavers in other countries?

M: Yes, I am always looking through the new fabrics at the docks when the ships first arrive.

S: Do you also enjoy eating food and wearing clothing made in your own country?

M: Yes, of course.

S: So, you are able to eat food and wear clothing from both – our land and other lands - and you enjoy both?

M: Yes, this is exactly what I just said.

S: Then would you not agree that it is the same with cultures? That it is possible for a person to be able to appreciate two cultures equally?

M: Well, I suppose I might have to agree that it is similar based on your argument.

S: Could we then not agree that a person who grew up learning more than one language and participating in more than one culture is also able to be loyal to his homeland while also participating in another culture?

M: Yes, this too might be possible based on your reasoning.

S: In fact, Monoglottos, I would argue that it might even be possible that there are good reasons to learn more than one language and culture. Do you not agree?

M: This is a possibility, Socrates, I agree. I will need time to reflect upon your reasoning but I do believe you are on to something.

S: I look forward to future discussions on this subject, Monoglossos, after we each have had time to think more about it.

M: Thank you for coming here tonight, Socrates, it was a great honor and very enlightening.

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