Language has played an extremely important role in my social circles. It AMAZES me how anyone can think that language does not play an important role in any group of people. Language is all we have to communicate, therefore it is obviously crucial in determining peoples position in any social circle. People who use funny language are more popular in social circles, and those who do not use funny language become oppressed in their social circles, because they are not thought of as highly. This is how it has always been, and this is how it will always be, and if you have a problem with that then you are probably one of the people who do not fit in your social circles because of your lack of ability to use language in an interesting way.
It’s not that hard to figure out, in fact its quite simple. It’s like Social-Darwinism, survival of the fittest. If you do not have a way with language, you will be oppressed in a way. When I say oppressed I mean you will not be in the social role you want to. Furthermore, people who do not have good language skills will likely be delegated to a certain social circle. Your friends and the people you hang out with are people with similar language as yourself. The fact that you will not be able to be a part of a certain social circle because of your lack of language skills is oppressive. This is a harsh reality that society has been forced to deal with for all time.
For too long people of all ages, from elementary school to adulthood, have been oppressed by language. This disgusting trend must end, and it must end now. There is only one way I can think of to end this subtle form of oppression. That is to start teaching better language to every child when they are young in school. If every child receives an equal education, as it should be, then they will all be taught the same language. If they all have the same language, then they will all have the same tools and be on an equal playing field socially, a right which EVERY child is entitled to, no questions asked.
Some ignorant person who opposes this idea, might argue that this will not work in ending all oppression in language. This is true, to some extent, however if they are oppressed, they will at least be equipped with the tools of language to fight back, and that is all that we, as adults, can provide them with.
Because this oppressive language is present from the time we are all children, it plays a huge role in shaping the course of everyone’s life. A child may be verbally oppressed by a peer, causing damage to his self-esteem. This damaged self-esteem stays with the child, and may even become worse as time goes on and the child is oppressed by language more. As this poor kid grows older, his self-esteem level will no doubt have an influence on the social circles he joins and the choices he makes. All of the choices he makes and the people who he or she hangs out with play a crucial role in shaping the individual;s future. Think about it...that individual’s work ethic and habits are all affected by the people he or she hangs around. These characteristics play a large role in the jobs, and activities that he or she will take place in. Getting a job is a huge part of your life, and this choice of jobs is affected by oppressive language from the past. Oppressive Language undoubtedly plays a large role in people’s futures, and can have a lasting effect on the course of their lives.
Oppressive language does allow people to grow to their fullest potential socially. For example, A person may have a certain gift for public speaking that will be very useful in the course of their lives, but this gift may not ever have the chance to come to surface for everyone to see due to verbal oppression by someone else. For those of you who may argue that this subtle oppressive language is no big deal, you are wrong. You may not realize the lasting effect that it has on everyones psyche, but this is only because of the subtleness of most oppressive language, similar to a stealth bomber; you may not be able to see it but it is still there and very dangerous. In the proper environment, one without subtle verbal oppression, a person will be able to grow and explore these abilities. Oppressive language on a daily basis, no matter how subtle, can shape a persons life in a totally different way then they may envision for themselves.
6 comments:
I'm gonna have to go with "condescending" as your voice.
Not too much else to comment on, good paper.
A callous or condescending voice
I would say it sounds angry.
It's in a kind of demeaning, serious almost depressive voice. I get the sense of "this is how it is, and you're wrong and society sucks" It's not very up lifiting in my opinion
I am the author, the voice was angry.
Well, the ALL CAPS title and exclamation point certainly give the right idea of angry. But the actual rhythms of the prose and the word selection sets into something like formal writing – it doesn’t sound angry. (but nice insult at the end of the first paragraph).
Watch the details: peoples is possessive: people’s.
Same here: persons life is person’s life
individual;s is individual’s
For example, A person (lowercase the a)
Then is than. (at end)
“It’s not that hard to figure out, in fact its quite simple.” – Comma Splice
Nice Counter argument paragraph.
Some of the paragraphs slide into a bit of vagueness – it’s hard to track with your argument because it’s generalities, not specifics.
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