Uses of Language as a Political Tool
This is an excerpt from the paper...
The uses of language are numerous, but with respect to ethnicity and identity language is a powerful tool that is often manipulated by both dominant and non-dominant groups in society in a struggle over power and control. As a political tool, language is often used to homogenize or distinguish groups of individuals in ways that serve those in control of society. Bilingualism is often a concept fraught with political controversy in the United States with many politicians feeling that such a dualistic use of language undermines the values and power of the dominant cultural group in society while others view it as a just means of permitting ethnic diversity and cultural identity.The use of language as a political tool are discussed in the works of Mike Davis (2001) in Magical Urbanism, Susan Oboler (1995) in Ethnic Labels/Latino Lives, and Juan Gonzales (2001) in Harvest of Empire. In Ethnic Labels/Latino Lives, Oboler (1995) maintains that the ôàemergence of the term æHispanicÆö as the homogenizing ôethnic designatorö or American citizens of Latin American heritage has been used politically to posit these minority groups into racial, ethnic and class segments (p. xiii). Since those that are in the most powerful and most dominant racial, ethnic, and class segments are responsible for allocating resources and making laws, efforts to promote bilingualism are often perceived as a threat to power and control.
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Spanish Whereas, Studies Introduction, American Caribbean, Empire Gonzales, Latin American, African Americans, Americans Europeans, Mike Davis, Lives Oboler, Texas Latinos, davis 2001, power control, gonzales 2001, harvest empire, latin american, linguistic diversity, political tool, oboler 1995, magical urbanism, 2001 harvest empire, 1995 ethnic, minority language rights, political tool language, ethnic class segments, racial ethnic class,
Approximate Word count = 809
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Uses of Language as a Political Tool
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
