Language always conveys a message. Language can convey a message that is full of manipulation. In Robin Lakoff’s essay, “Everybody’s a Politician”, she discusses how manipulation is used in day to day conversations, even if one is not intentionally trying to manipulate. Language can be used to dominate others. In the essay, “the Language of Oppression” by Haig A. Bosmajian, he explains the power of using names to define others. Language can change the way a person thinks. In the same essay, “the Language of Oppression” by Haig A. Bosmajian, he also discusses the way someone thinks can be changed by language. Lastly, language has the power to degrade an individual. In another essay, by Robin Lakoff, “You Are What You Say”, she explains how …show more content…
In the essay, “You Are What You Say”, by Robin Lakoff, she explains how certain words can be used to degrade an individual. Lakoff makes clear that a girl is someone “. . . who is . . . too immature and too far from real life to be entrusted with responsibilities or with decisions of any serious or important nature” (Lakoff, “You Are What You Say”, pg.3). A girl is someone who cannot be taken seriously. A girl is simply incapable of running a women’s errand, because they are incredibly immature. Yet, women are still referred to as girls, since calling someone a woman is “embarrassing”. She also elaborates on being called a “lady” and how that is degrading as well. She used the example of calling a woman doctor a “lady doctor”, which is extremely degrading since no one calls a man doctor a “gentleman doctor”. Being called a “lady” also implies that she is helpless and not someone to be taken seriously. So, language can and is used to degrade …show more content…
Robin Lakoff, in her essay “Everybody’s a Politician”, discusses the word “honey” when a man uses it. She gives a wonderful example using a Xerox machine that needs to be fixed. The woman asks the man how to fix the machine, but instead of helping her the man replies saying he can do it and not to worry about it, honey. At first, “honey” seems to convey that he cares for her, but this is not the case. In actuality, he is conveying the message that he is the adult, while she is the child. She would not be smart enough to fix the machine on her own, because she is a woman. Although, she asks him if he can teach her how to fix it, not for the man to fix it on his own. If he teaches her how to fix the machine by herself, she would not need him anymore, but then he loses the power he has over her. She would stop being deferential to him and become competent with high self-esteem. So he basically tells her she is too incompetent to fix the machine, but makes himself appear nicer by calling her “honey”. On the surface, some words do not appear to be degrading, but when one digs a little deeper, one will find, that the words used are actually
In Todd Shepard’s work Voices of Decolonization, the featured documents provide keen insight into the geopolitical environment of the era of decolonization (1945-1965) and the external and internal pressures on the relationships between colonial nations and the territories that they held dominion over (Shepard 10). Decolonization is the result of a combination of national self-determination and the establishment of functional international institutions composed of independent sovereign nations united towards common goals. As decolonization progressed, it intersected with points of significant sociopolitical tension between colonies and the nations that colonized them. Some of these moments of tension came in the form of progressive ideals held by international agencies which colonial nations were allied with, the revolt of colonized populations against their standing government in favor of independence, and in moral and political conflicts that arose when decolonization takes a form unexpected or undesired by the primary agents of progressive international institutions.
Shannon L. Alder once said, “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” In today’s society, it is very common to fall into peer pressure and to do exactly what the society expects from you. Fitting into the society is one of the hardest, yet most wanted things an individual does. In order to fit in with the typical society norms, one is willing to hide his true identity. Kenji Yoshino, in the “Preface” and “The New Civil Rights,” introduces a term called “covering” – a way of devaluing one’s aspect’s in order to fit in with the society. Covering is a part of everyday living because it helps an individual avoid being judged and ridiculed. Yoshino discusses how people create a false personality based upon the acceptance of society to cover and protect their true self.
Language is our power and expression is our freedom. Through a puff of air, we are able to communicate and influence the environments that surround us. Over the course of time humans have evolved, but by the means of language, humans have matured into humanity. The possibility of thought and emotions such as empathy show the ability to think with complexity. A crucial element that helps Suzanne K. Langer’s illustrate the essence of humanity throughout her essay “Language and Thought.” Langer thoroughly depicts what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom by explicitly stating “The line between man and beast […] is the language line” (120). Consequently, this implies that if a person is declined the freedom of language they are hardly considered human. Many people around the globe have had their voices silenced due to corrupt governments and the oppression of their culture. These individuals are subjected to the devastating effects of the loss of language, which in turn, translates to the loss of power. Language is our foundation for hopes and opportunity, for with out it a person is shell of possibility that is subjected to a passive existence.
Words have the power to affect people in many ways from empowerment or to taking upon action. Words are able to make huge changes in the lives of many and can make good or bad changes. In history, people used words in both good and bad function from making a promise to a nation or even manipulating multitudes of people within a nation. Words definitely have the ability to take situations a far distance but despite the fact that evil can manipulate the majority of people, individuals too can realize the true actions and evil buried inside the perpetrator. People can be both ugly and beautiful at sometimes with weapons along their sides. A novel called The Book Thief illustrates the power of words in a multitude of ways, showing the potential
In the essay “From Ancient Greece to Iraq, the Power of Words in Wartime” by Robin Tolmach Lakoff, Lakoff discusses the fact that words are a tool as well when it comes to wars. She talks about the differences between our natural want and ability to kill things, and the mental training soldiers receive to make it easier for them. Lakoff talks about the practice of dehumanizing the “enemy” through nicknames that make us feel superior then our foes, and the repercussions of using this type of language. In the essay by George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language”, Orwell talks about the decay of the English language, especially in political writings. He discusses the fact that when it comes to writing, political being the main focus, it’s
All human beings are born with genes that are unique to them and make us the individuals we become. The right to exist as an individual in society achieving the best possible potential of one’s existence irrespective of any bias is expected by most humans. In the essay, ‘The new Civil Rights’ Kenji Yoshino discusses how the experience of discovering and revealing his sexual preference as a gay individual has led to him proposing a new civil rights by exploring various paradigms of the rights of a human being to exist in today’s diverse society. In exploring the vast demands of rights ranging from political or basic human rights we have differentiated ourselves into various groups with a common thread weaving through all the demands which
Women have had to fight for equal rights throughout history, but still endure many hardships due to sexism. Marilyn Frye made it a point of her career to highlight these struggles, and did so by identifying three main ways women are disadvantaged. Frye’s analysis begins by elaborating on oppression itself, then she uses this definition to detail the mechanisms in society that are oppressive, and ends with a closer look on women’s limited choices. Even though Frye first published her papers back in 1983 it is still worthwhile to explain and critique the ideas presented, and to analyze their accuracy in 2017.
Language is just meaning and this meaning consists of nothing other than random connections that man has made to try to bring order to the chaos of the world. This assemblage of the signifier (the word) and the signified (that which the word is describing) has no foundation other than that inherited from tradition. Would the world be any worse off if the name for a cow was “duck”? Most of the human population is forced into only a certain set of actions by the media, by the man, by their own language. Is there any escape from this?
When is language more powerful, when it is used to control or inspire? Like Edward Bulwer-Lytton once said “the pen is mightier than the sword”. This means language is more powerful than fighting. Language is a very powerful manipulative technique. There are many ways to persuade with language that make it powerful, such as controlling and uplifting. I find that controlling is a more advantageous way to persuade through manipulation and fear, rather than using uplifting techniques. In Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell, the animals of a farm take over the farm, leading to many disputes of if the next leader should be Snowball or Napoleon. Both pigs. Napoleon runs Snowball out of the farm leading to him becoming the one and only ruler. He ruled as a dictator, using many controlling techniques as he did.
In the essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal” by Jonathan Kozol, the situation of racial segregation is refurbished with the author’s beliefs that minorities (i.e. African Americans or Hispanics) are being placed in poor conditions while the Caucasian majority is obtaining mi32 the funding. Given this, the author speaks out on a personal viewpoint, coupled with self-gathered statistics, to present a heartfelt argument that statistics give credibility to. Jonathan Kozol is asking for a change in this harmful isolation of students, which would incorporate more funding towards these underdeveloped schools. This calling is directed towards his audience of individuals who are interested in the topic of public education (seeing that this selection is from one of his many novels that focus on education) as well as an understanding of the “Brown v. Board of Education” (1954) case, which ties in to many aspects of the author’s essay. With the application of exemplum, statistics, and emotional appeals, Jonathan Kozol presents a well developed argument.
The first power language possesses is manipulating people. In the book, a character named Max Vandenburg wrote a book called Standover Man, in which the main character symbolizes Hitler, to bravely emphasize his thoughts on Hitler. The first page of the book quotes: “The young man wandered around for quite some time, thinking, planning, and figuring out exactly how to make the world his. Then one day, out of nowhere, it struck him- the perfect plan. (omit) ‘Words!’ He grinned.” (pg. 349) This example clearly suggests that Hitler used words to make the world his. He brainwashed people, and massacred Jews, just by using words. He realized that he wouldn’t have to use guns to lure people to his side. Eventually, Hitler’s conniving plan to use words marked an unforgettable event in the history. This left many grieving and dead, but he succeeded in making a strong impression and making the world his. Although his decisions and actions were manipulated by words, he could control people by his words as well. Thus, when Hitler knew that words would give him power to create ...
Language has the power to influence and reshape our thoughts and actions. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, there is a society which controls the language of everyone in it. Under the World Council, everyone is to follow the many rules put in place and no one even tries to break them. There is no “I” in their language, there is only “we”. With the power to influence and reshape people, language has a big impact on our thoughts and actions.
James Baldwin is absolutely correct when he states "language can connect or divorce one from certain groups" and "language is a political instrument and proof of power."
The word language is most often associated with speech, yet it is also closely related to power. While many see language as a tool of unification and empowerment, it is also used to silence others. Society gives advantages to individuals that speak the dominant language, and those who are not fluent, are victims of social pressures such as ridicule, harassment, and isolation. Language gives individuals the power to manipulate and oppress others. Oppression occurs when one group has power over another group, and use that power to manipulate. Language gives dominant groups the power to oppress minority individuals through segregation, assimilation and hierarchies.
Language is a part of our everyday lives, and we can describe the meaning of language in many ways. As suggested in Gee and Hayes (2011, p.6 ) people can view language as something in our minds or something existing in our world in the form of speech, audio recordings, and writings or we can view language as a way of communicating with a group of people. Language can be used to express our emotions, make sense of our mental and abstract thoughts and assists us in communicating with others around us. Language is of vital importance for children to enable them to succeed in school and everyday life. Everyone uses both oral and written language. Language developed as a common ability amongst human beings with the change