Speech is a complex set of processes that emerge from the human body. Sure we need our lips, pharynx, muscles that control respiration, and a functioning brain to produce speech.
Speech reports the contents of our personal experiences to other humans and to ourselves. Yes. Humans talk to themselves a lot.
Speech is used among humans to influence or force each other to see the world in a particular way, value certain things but not others, do this but not that, and create avenues for further communication, among other things.
The disciplines of debate and oratory are well developed within and among human groups.
The command of speech nuances required for successful diplomacy is legend.
Speech’s power to hurt or heal is well-established in reports from those who study human history.
The power that is human speech should not be treated lightly. Speech can save or kill due to its power over and within human minds. Speech is used to make and break laws and to allow a speaker to have their own way at all costs or at reasonable cost. It does soothe restless minds, it does obscure experiences that are inconvenient to any given speaker.
How should societies regulate this immensely powerful mental tool among humans?
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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