The Power of the Language

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Fernanda D'Angelo                                                                                            

Ms. Mitzner

Eng. 101 T, Th

19 Feb. 2015

The Power of the Language

In Jimmy Santiago Baca’s "Coming into Language," he tells about the story of how he accomplished mastering both reading and writing, moving from illiteracy, and becoming a writer all while confined to prison. He employed the words as an artifice to face the atrocities in jail and to emerge from anonymity, and later he became a renowned poet. He declares, "Through language I was free." This sentence is very truthful and sensitive. Thus many effects as personal expression, shared experiences, overcoming obstacles in his life were possible be achieved through the intense contact with the language.

        First of all, the power of the language enabled Baca to communicate about his life with others. Writing is something very valuable that we have in our hands because it allows us to show how we feel, to say what we desire, to express our feelings, and sometimes to find a place to get away. The author reflects about that, for example, when he says "I could respond, escape, indulge; embrace, or reject earth or cosmos.”  Furthermore, through words individuals can scream and leave silence and say what they think about their personal life or the world.

         Reporting his personal experiences for people was another result of the influence of words.  For example, Baca managed through language to connect with other people to share his personal knowledge. He could open the door of his heart and reveal to the world his joys and grievances that were hidden by the silence  which  was broken by the use of words. Sharing experiences with others is quite significant in our society because it motivates us to

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fight for our ideals and goals, teaches us to make more right choices, and elucidates us a little more about the reality of life.