Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Metaphor

My job is a rollercoaster ride - up one minute, down the next and I am constantly traveling in circles, going nowhere. One hour they ask me to do one thing, the next hour it is something completely different. It would appear that the managers have never spent any time on the frontlines of day-to-day store operations. There is never enough time to finish a task, but always time to ask why nothing ever changes. Management is a pail of conflicting decisions, daily pouring out confusing directives to store staff. I am one of the buckets into which the muck of confusion and indecision flows. This constant state of confusion has the rest of the staff walking around with a dazed look on their faces, never quite sure what to do next. In so many ways, I am the tread that moves swiftly on a treadmill but goes nowhere in never changing scenery. Yet, I still live in the misguided belief that I am the shining star that, given the opportunity, could point the way to a better approach.

Language

Kirby and Goodpaster indicate that language is the software of our brain and that "language is the landscape of our minds" (1995, p.94). Whichever the metaphor, it is clear that thinking cannot be separated from language. Language translates thinking into communication with others and has three primary purposesÐ'--to provide information, to explain, and to use persuasion (Messina and Messina, 2005).

Facts are one of the tools used when trying to inform or explain. The suitable use of language can make the difference between moving knowledge forward properly and spreading rumors. As language has the ability to distort information, it is important that explanation be as clear as possible to ensure that it will be understood correctly.

It is also essential to be aware of context when imparting information. Context helps to determine the type and style of language used in different situations (Kirby & Goodpaster, 1995). For instance, when explaining the experience of pain to a spouse, words could be chosen that would elicit the most sympathy. On the other hand, when describing the same pain to a doctor, the language used might be designed to convey the most succinct description in order to get to the root of the problem quickly and efficiently.

Connotation must also be considered. "Most words are not confined to a single meaning: rather, they have many shades of meaning" (Kirby & Goodpaster, 1995, p. 87). Differences in language usage between cultures may cause difficulties with communication as the speaker's thinking process and language connotation may be translated differently by the listener. A connotation may be used to include the emotions or associations that surround a word. Paying attention to the connotation of a word can make the information more powerful and personal by summoning the emotions typically associated with the words.

Language has the ability to either expand or limit the expression of thought. The smallest unit of language is a word and the list of individual words that one possesses makes up a person's vocabularyÐ'--the larger the list of words, the greater the vocabulary of the speaker. Perhaps the larger the vocabulary, the richer the thought process would be. This implies that one should fill his or her life with a variety of experiences, read a diverse group of authors on a wide range of subjects, and expose him or herself to as many new and different ideas as possible. The vaster, richer, and more varied the input to the mind, the greater the thought process should be. Conversely, thought process is adversely affected by the lack of language skills. An artist would find it difficult to express a vision with limited colors, so it may be equally difficult for a speaker to express him or herself with limited words and limited thoughts.

In addition