Instead of writing actual words, I have decided to express my response in the form of dance:
Please stand up, raise one of arms, slowly bob your head, and then shift your weight constantly between both your feet.
Clearly, there are distinctions to be made when discussing dance as a language. This inquiry, however, is dependent upon how one would define both “language” and “dance,” proving that the answer to this question is relative.
Modern dictionaries contain a myriad of definitions for what “language” really is. The irrefutable intrinsic quality of language, however, is the means of communication. The “heart” of language lies in its ability to communicate an idea, thought, or emotion. Thus, going by this definition, dance can easily be a form of language. Dance is normally thought to simply be composed of various movements in accord to some type of music or rhythmic beat. In a much broader sense, however, dance can be thought of the body’s way of communicating. As displayed by Dante Adela last week, dance can communicate both ideas and emotions. From observing the body’s motions after the “cold shower” exercise, the viewer was able to sense the disturbance brought on by the cold water simply from the way Adela moved; he did not incorporate any sounds or words.
It is important to note that when seen in the context of a language, dance is often very generalized. Yes, it is sometimes possible to see definitive emotions expressed through specific dance movements, such as when Adela expressed discomfort in the shower example. Dance, however, mostly serves as an interpretative means of communication rather than a definitive one. The video regarding the dance between Adela and the woman, for example, was interpreted in a variety of ways by the members of the class. The message extracted while watching the same dance performance can vary amongst members of the audience and depends almost entirely on the viewer. Some dance, however, can be extremely specific in terms of communication. If dance is only defined loosely as “bodily movements,” then sign language may also be rendered a type of “dance.” Another specific type of dance is employed by Western bees. Performing the infamous “waggle dance,” these bees can actually communicate to each other about nearby food sources by dancing.
When going by strict definitions, it would appear as though dance is not a language. But when reason transcends these definitions, I believe that dance is indeed a language because of its inherent ability to communicate emotions and ideas as described above.
Krishan Sharma
Very well written post.