Topic: Linguistic Ideology: continued; Conversation & style; Indexicality/ Pronouns; Conclusion
You will be required to write two paragraphs.
1. The first paragraph, which will be critical thoughts on the course materials. By critical reading, I mean a close examination of the main argument of a text, as well as what evidence is used to support the argument.
Related materials:
The Social Art (TSA), Chapters 19-21, 30, 34, 35
Language Myths (LM) # 2, 12, 18, 20
2. The second paragraph will be a response to one of your classmates' original posts. Think of these blogs as a way to explore a major theme or two from the week's reading in more personal terms. Once you've analyzed the major points, how do you react to what you're reading? Can you think of experiences from your own life that either support or contradict what you're reading (considering I am an international student from China)? The following is one of my classmate's post:
Blog
The idea that words have powerful effects on others and the way they form ourselves and the environment is not new, but is something that calls for a closer look when examined. Words are very important when stringed together in a certain way. They are what form intriguing novels like theHarry Potter series and important documents such as The Declaration of Independence. Ronald Macaulay opens chapter nineteen from The Social Art: Language and Its Uses by explaining that we may have read about magical societies with spells and contracts, but we ourselves do not believe they apply to our own world.
However, he argues that words are the closest thing we have to this. From contracts to promising, cursing and deeper statements such as "I love you", we are capable of creating just as much of an effect on another person, ourselves or surroundings as any fictional spell. When reading this chapter, I was a bit taken back that words and the way we use them are compared to something "magical". At first, I thought this was really cliché but the more I followed the argument, the more I realized Macaulay has a point.
Whenever we engage in apologies, promises and more, we create an understanding between individuals and these words create something that is not just uttered, but felt. Macaulay says, "In all these uses of language, there is an assumption (not always justified) of sincerity, that speakers mean what they say" (101, 2006). Therefore, even this sincerity creates enough of a bond between people which gives the words more of a spark. Rhetoric seems even more complicated as every detail of an utterance must be understood in order to follow its meaning. Using generic terms rather than specific ones creates more difficulty for the reader or listener.
This is similar to joking or sarcasm where the original meaning is not stated, but rather the opposite and one must try very hard to understand the phrase and context as well as other indicators such as movement or tone to fully understand the other. I have not thought of these things previously, but it is amazing that there are many complexities within language we have not fully studied, but are still able to communicate effectively using them.
I enjoyed reading the last chapter of the book on the author's own exploration of language. It was interesting to learn how his path led him to creating this book and now how I've come across it in this class. Many of the conclusions he has made are clear and have opened my eyes on language and the complexity it holds. I am glad I have been able to read and better understand all of language has given us and the way it continues to form ourselves and our environment.
Therefore, Language Myth two, "Some Languages are Just Not Good Enough" is a myth that presents the ignorance some people have about language. Languages are a vital form of communication we have seen throughout this course and none should be judged better than another.
We have seen that languages vary vastly and differences in lexicon, grammar, or anything else should not be judged. All languages are vital in our communication around the world and I believe it is amazing that one people can have many different ways in expressing themselves. During the lecture, it was mentioned that descriptivist's seem to want to understand how language works, rather than creating rules and controlling the way it should be used. I think this is the perfect way to understand and continue to appreciate any subject, by discovering all it has to offer and not forcing any of its elements into rigid structures.