The importance of semantics in understanding and expressing language, especially in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is dominant in most of us, is indisputable. However, perhaps semantics is overrated. Many aspects of our communication depend on elements beyond words, such as body language, facial expression and context, as well as speech properties such as volume, rhythm and intonation. All of these factors contribute significantly to the understanding of what you want to communicate, as brilliantly demonstrated in the film “Les Triplettes de Belleville”, which, although it uses only two words understandable to French speakers, conveys its message clearly through context and body language.
Our ability to communicate without words is surprising, and verbal communication becomes even more effective when we add prosody, which encompasses all the inflection, rhythm and volume of our speech, differentiating it from mechanical reading. Prosody is produced and understood mainly by the right hemisphere of the brain, which has a system mirroring that of the left hemisphere for semantic content, with critical areas for the understanding and production of prosody.
Injuries to the brain, such as strokes or tumors, can affect these areas without compromising the understanding or production of the semantic content of language. However, damage to these areas can lead to difficulties in reading emotional meanings and social interactions, as effective communication depends as much or more on the right hemisphere, responsible for prosody and emotional content, than on the words chosen. Injuries to these areas can cause social problems such as isolation, given the importance of language as a means of communicating with others.
Ultimately, communication is dominated by prosody and only minimally influenced by language itself. This highlights the complexity of human communication, which goes far beyond the merely literal use of words.
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