Freedom Of Speech Is Inborn

Freedom of speech is Inborn.
Watch a newborn and see him twisting his lips sideways and making some sound in between. As he grows he says something incoherently which we do not understand but assume that he is saying something sounding like MM. It can mean anything but we say he is saying Ma or Mummy.

This is the beginning of putting words in his mouth as we know. Till the kid learns to speak in our language he is freely speaking his own language and we love him, and adore him. The process of unlearning starts after that. We start correcting him - this is called A for Apple, B for ball, C for Cat, and D for doll. The words are familiar to him and he picks up fast.

As he grows, mingles with his peers, and observes things around he learns that A also means arms, B also means bus, C also means cheeks, D also means drums, and so on.

Now he is on his own. We may or may not agree with him but we can not say he is wrong.



Sometimes we want him to speak our language, follow our thinking and act as we want and if does not agree we become enemies and stop talking.



I love a person if I can talk to him or her even if we agree to disagree on everything we talk.



Above all, we were born with freedom of speech, isn’t it?

 

We are a product of circumstances and surroundings. In that hypothetical situation, the baby will be depending those five or ten senses. There are kids deaf and dumb or maybe blind also. As long as breathing and touch senses are active, they are in a position to express their feelings and needs.
The moot question is freedom of speech subject to social norms.

 

Child psychology is a specialized subject but since we too have raised children, I can say, they are very smart and their observation power is very sharp. They may not know how to speak but know how to act. Once realizing that crying helps in getting food, that becomes their tool.
A small example. My daughter, less than one year, developed mumps. She was crying and her mother was trying to pacify her. Even breastfeeding did not help. Then suddenly, she picks up a glass lying nearby and throws it away as far as she could. I guessed she was thirsty and asking for water. Lo and behold, she drank the full glass of water and gave us a toothless smile.