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Language and Culture
In many, if not all, instances culture is not beneficial to its subscribers. Inherent within a culture is language. Language itself is very fluid and flexible and can elicit many emotions and feelings within a person or larger group of people. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the social influences of language by describing several issues that deal with interpersonal communication and more specifically the use of language to manipulate, hypnotize and ultimately inspire others. The essay will investigate the issues of jokes, speech laws, and specified slur-words to illuminate the qualities that language brings to society.
Humor is a gift that should be enjoyed by all. Laughing makes us feel good and provides a deeper psychological function. Lickerman (2011) agreed when she wrote "perhaps laughter could be most properly considered as a weapon against suffering and despair. If we can joke about a disappointing or traumatic event, we'll often find ourselves feeling that what's happened to us isn't so bad and that we'll be able to get through it." In our society joking and laughter is the only way that a public discussion can be held on many topics.
As a result of joking and laughter as an important aspect of our way to communicate with one...
Hateful and distasteful humor is abound in all media sources, where our intelligence is continually insulted as an evolved species. Regardless of the content, we choose, or consent to what we hear and experience. It is up to the individual themselves to set their own personal boundaries of taste when dealing with humor. Everyone is entitled to say what they feel is important and taking offense is voluntary.
Issue 2
Hate speech laws are very dangerous and threaten the essence of the American ideal which was founded on freedom of speech. The main problem with hate speech is that hate can be inferred in so many different ways and at its core is impossible to define. Philosophically speaking, hate is not the opposite of love, rather indifference plays this role. Hate as an idea is too flimsy to build laws and regulations upon as, like all language, takes on a fluid and watery meaning due to the infinite applications associated with the word.
Censorship denotes fear and weakness. A strong government, community or organization should not fear words. An old saying suggests that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." It is time for…
References
American Civil Liberties Union (1994). Hate Speech on Campus. December 31, 1994. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/hate-speech-campus
Floyd, K. (2011). Interpersonal Communication 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Oct 10, 2011.
Lickerman, A. (2011). Why We Laugh. Psychology Today, 23 Jan 2011. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201101/why-we-laugh
The Importance of Language in Understanding Culture Introduction One of the lesser known, but important, programs of the United Nations is to promote the preservation of the world's languages. The UNDESA has incorporated language into sustainability standards, in particular concerned about the preservation of the world's languages that are most at risk. Language, the group argues, represents a way of thinking for a people (UNDESA, 2016). By that logic, it is essential
Language and Culture in Autobiography Language, Culture and Identity in the writings of Maxine Hong Kingston, Richard Rodriguez and Alfred Kazin: degradation of culture, family and self" Through the three autobiographical works, "Talk," by Maxine Hong Kingston, "Hunger of Memory," by Richard Rodriguez and "Brownsville School Days," by Alfred Kazin a reader can plainly comprehend the difficulties associated with immigration and language learning and how those difficulties interact with a developing
Grassroots movements and peaceful protests have helped promote equality in Hawaiian higher education. In 1991, a fierce debate waged throughout the nation over the legitimacy of affirmative action programs. That debate helped to showcase the need to take action—affirmative action—to conscientiously and constructively solve the problem of institutionalized racism. In a KFVE news show entitled “Island Issues,” two professors from the University of Hawaii talk about the need for affirmative action
Consider the fact that the Iroquois are said not to have had a strong word for the singular "I," and that they subsequently developed what was arguably the longest lasting communal representative democracy the world has ever known. The Inuit, whose culture revolves around the arctic world, have dozens of words for snow - this sort of technical knowledge allows quick and accurate transmission of conditions and training in
Apparently this view has much in its favor. When we compare modern English with some of those Indian languages which are most concrete in their formative expression, the contrast is striking. When we say "The eye is the organ of sight, the Indian may not be able to form the expression the eye, but may have to define that the eye of a person or of an animal is meant.
Silence too is an important part of communication in Singapore. It is customary to pause before answering a question, to indicate that the person has given the question the appropriate thought and consideration that is needed. Westerners habit of responding quickly to a question, to Singaporeans, often indicates thoughtlessness and rude behavior. Their demeanor is typically calm, and Westerners more aggressive style is often seen as off putting ("Singapore: