1. WOK: Language
9/29

2. Agenda Revisit quote from Monday
Continue on with language as a way of knowing
End goal – begin to form your own opinions – is language a reliable way of knowledge?

3. Quote 1
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Ludwig Wittgenstein What were your thoughts and reactions?

4. Homework Take out your article on language
Discuss some of the important/interesting/surprising ideas that you discovered or acknowledged

5. Language and values Value language
Using language to persuade and influence
Language at war
Language and power

6. Value Language
We use language to not only describe, but also to persuade and influence.
For example, gossip and perspective

7. Language to influence and persuade
Emotionally laden language
Weasel Words
Grammar
Revealing and Concealing

8. Emotionally Laden Language
Some words are not only descriptive, but also EMOTIVE
“the aura of favorable or unfavorable feeling that hovers over a word”
Connotation of the word
Euphemisms
Substitute mild or neutral sounding words for a negative sounding one

9. Questions
In 1947, the US Dept of War was renamed the Dept of Defense. What difference, if any, did this make?
Analyze the way language is being used in the following pair of expressions:
Terrorist/freedom fighter
Pro life/ pro choice
Free speech/ hate speech
Genetically Modified Food/ Frankenstein Food

10. Weasel Words They give you an escape route Many, should, probably…
Our product will work for you if you follow the instructions carefully.
Dentifresh toothpaste helps fight tooth decay.
Our product can restore up to 25% loss of hair.
If Tim works hard, he should do well on the test.

11. Grammar
Grammar can affect how something is perceived - example: PASSIVE VOICE
Many villages were bombed.
We bombed many villages

12. Revealing and Concealing
Language can REVEAL certain aspects of reality
Language can CONCEAL by diverting attention
The descriptions we use can affect how other’s see something/someone.
I invited an attractive guy to the party.
I invited a drummer to the party.
I invited a marathon runner to the party.
I invited a felon to the party.

13. Question
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” Agree? Disagree? Examples? Reasons?

14. Language at War
Language is not innocent – it can manipulate how we see things
Obvious at war time
Dehumanize the enemy?
Get public support? Our boys?
War Speak?
Neutralize/kill
Take out/destroy
Friendly fire/accidentally killing your own troops
Liberate/invade
No longer a factor/dead